Albany faces ‘urgent’ housing crisis

Hundreds of Albany residents are living in limbo as they compete for just 14 available WA Housing Authority homes in the city.

At the end of February there were 435 applications on the WA Housing Authority waiting list, with 14 houses listed as vacant.

Of these applications 79 were classified as priority.

Member for Albany Peter Watson said Albany was faced with an urgent situation.

“We’ve got people living in cars, there’s people living up at the Forts, there’s people couch surfing in Albany with young families,” he said.

“A lot of time, young families, if they can’t find accommodation they might lose their children.

“We are not a third world country; we are a very affluent country but we are not looking after the people we need to be looking after.

“It’s just not good enough in this day and age.”

The figures come after a WA Housing Authority facility on Wansborough Road in Spencer Park was demolished last year.

Authority Service Delivery general manager Greg Cash said public houses could be vacant for a number of reasons including property repairs and maintenance or being readied for sale or demolition.

Mr Cash said 21 dwellings were expected to be constructed in the Great Southern this financial year with 17 in Albany and four in Denmark.

“These dwellings are being delivered as part of the social housing investment package, which is intended to halve the number of seniors and families with children on the priority wait list by June 30, 2017,” he said.

“And along with other Housing Authority initiatives, will deliver 1000 additional homes to benefit those most in need in our community.”

Shalom House co-ordinator Leah Severin said at the last Great Southern homelessness forum a lack of affordable housing was cited as one of the biggest issues.

“At the latest one there was a definite need for increase of housing and most attendees saw that as the biggest gap in service provision,” she said.

“Most of the service users at Shalom House are all on waiting list of public housing while they sleep rough.

“It’s incredibly difficult for them, you are living in limbo as you attempt to take the next step to better your life but you are still waiting to be supported.”