Perth's Homelessness Problem: A Complex Issue That Requires Local Solutions

A recent homeless camp in Perth's south has been dispersed, but those on the frontline say it's just a small part of a much larger and more complex issue. The problem of homelessness in Perth is growing, with outreach workers and support services seeing an increase in the number of people needing help, including dual-income families and elderly individuals.

Brett McCaul, the Salvation Army's outreach team leader in Western Australia, has been working in the sector for six years. He says the problem is not just the increasing number of people who need help, but the diversity in demographic groups.

"We really don't have the resources to be able to accommodate the amount of families that we're seeing," he said.

McCaul also notes that many elderly people are living in transitional services that are not suitable for their needs.

"We often see we've got a lot of elderly people that are living in some accommodation services, transitional services, that probably should be in aged care."

The issue was also evident among the 45 people who camped along Memorial Drive in Rockingham, before they were moved on at the end of last month. In Perth's north, FIFO worker Josh Chinnery volunteers for Vinnies in Joondalup, which reported a 36 per cent increase in demand over the last year.

"Even the people that have been holding down jobs for 20 or 30 years, they're coming in and they're at the point of becoming homeless because they can't afford just their everyday necessities," Mr Chinnery said.

Maija Hildebrand, Vinnies WA's service development manager, leads the Joondalup-Wanneroo Ending Homeless Group and says those needing help now include a growing number of couples, people with pets, and families trying to send their kids to school.

"Although it's not as visible as we might have seen in Memorial Drive, it doesn't mean it's not there," she said.

Data from the City of Wanneroo showed around one-in-three people rough sleeping in the area last financial year were sleeping in their cars. For some, like Neil Clifford-Mills, sleeping in cars is a reality.

"If it wasn't for the generosity of the people around here to help me through, I'd be in trouble," he said.

Libby Sweeney has been without stable accommodation for about two-and-a-half years and refuses to give up her dogs, even if it means sleeping rough.

"I've had people turn around and say to me, look, you're not going to get accommodation with the animals, you're just not. It'd be much easier if you fostered them out," Ms Sweeney said.

Both McCaul and Hildebrand say stronger local support services would go some way towards helping with the homelessness problems. A spokesperson for the relevant government department says this year's state budget included an extra $91.1 million for homelessness services.

"The Department [of Communities] works closely with service providers, local governments and community organisations to identify gaps in service delivery and strengthen place-based responses where they are needed most," they said.

However, Hildebrand says those investments have yet to make a difference in the northern suburbs.

"We don't have any crisis accommodation, we don't have any transitional, short-term or medium[-term] accommodation for adults over 25," she said.