State homelessness services lack reach as local not-for-profit Just Home Margaret River eyes service closure

Stakeholders have questioned if the State Government is serious about addressing rising homelessness in the Augusta-Margaret River shire amid revelations local service Just Home will cease its referral service at the end of next month. That news comes despite Housing Minister John Carey’s office proclaiming a record investment in homelessness — but with all of the South West services based in Bunbury and Busselton. A Government source said Just Home was not considered for any State Government rescue package because it was not considered a frontline provider. The not-for-profit group itself told the Times volunteers had seen ever-increasing numbers of residents coming to the advocacy group for guidance as rental availability dropped to an all-time low. Responding to questions from the Times, a spokesperson said State Government investment in housing and homelessness since 2021-22 was “a record $3.2 billion”. However, no new homes have been completed and no social housing has been spot-purchased in the shire since 2021. Additionally, the minister’s office cited $3.65 million in funding for homelessness services in the South West that included Centrecare, Lamp Inc. and Accordwest in Busselton and Bunbury. Just Home chair Naomi Godden said homelessness funding was “spread far too thin to make any tangible difference to our community”. “None of the South West services that receive this funding are even located in Margaret River or Augusta, and none of them have sufficient capacity to adequately support residents here,” Dr Godden said. “Unfortunately, the State Government’s investment into social and affordable housing and homelessness initiatives falls far short of what is needed to provide equitable, secure and affordable housing for the residents of the Augusta-Margaret River shire.” Mr Carey was in the spotlight after shire leaders went on the front foot in May and directly sought his help amid concerns the region was seriously lagging in new home construction and was viewed as a wealthy region not troubled by housing issues like other parts of WA. Just Home’s information and referral service started seven years ago to fill that gap, but a persistent lack of State Government buy-in had forced the service’s closure, Dr Godden said. “Despite our shire’s significant economic contribution to the State, out of this $3.65m, not a dollar of new money is going to be invested in our shire’s urgent and growing housing crisis,” she said. “The five new public housing dwellings currently under construction in Margaret River were committed by the WA Government a few years ago. This is not a new investment. “The housing needs of Augusta-Margaret River have essentially been ignored by the State Government.” A social housing project co-ordinated by affordable housing provider My Home and with links to Just Home and Margaret River Rotary also did not rate a ministerial mention since it was yet to win any State Government funding despite being in the planning stages for three years.