A bold vision to design, fund and build at least 100 brand new social houses across the Southwest is closer to becoming a reality.
On Friday May 10, leading South West homelessness services provider, advocate, and social housing provider, Accordwest, will bring together like-minded individuals, organisations, and businesses with philanthropic mindsets to take part in a ground-breaking event designed to genuinely help solve the homelessness crisis in the South West.
Held at the Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre, the ‘Symposium100’ is a free event, with morning presentations, a networking lunch, and facilitated workshop to discuss how to turn ideas into action, and ultimately, move the project forward to concrete reality.
Growing population – larger problem than ever expected
The initiative comes as a series of homelessness findings lay bare a worsening crisis situation that is having ramifications in local South West communities. The South West recently recorded the highest proportion of rough sleeping in WA, with a 62.9% increase in people experiencing homelessness, up from 415 to 676.
The problem is widespread across our region, with ongoing repercussions in community. Findings from the ‘advance to zero’ campaign by the West Australian Alliance to End Homelessness (WAAEH) – an independent champion for preventing and ending homelessness in Australia – revealed worrying health and wellbeing trends experienced by those experiencing homelessness in WA. Many of those surveyed reported experiencing a raft of physical health issues, from heatstroke, serious brain injury and head trauma, right through to epilepsy, asthma, diabetes, and kidney disease. More than half reported depression (58.7%) and anxiety (52.3%), while almost a third (30.2%) reported diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Perhaps surprisingly, 90.7% of those surveyed had regular income, and 85.3% had control of their finances. Yet only 22.2% reported that their basic needs were met, with less than half (40.9%) reporting that they received enough money to meet their expenses on a fortnightly basis. The data supports an emerging new ‘rent stress’ trend in the South West Region and Perth observed by WA government agencies, where families with employed parents are increasingly becoming homeless as their incomes become insufficient to secure rental accommodation.
The need for more housing is the number 1 priority
This is something we can all get involved in and solve as a community, right now. Housing has been shown to be of enormous importance to the health of not only individuals, but entire communities, with benefits ranging from preventing mental health disorders, to improving educational growth, and protection against domestic violence (as well as potentially reducing the health service costs associated with them), all while boosting the economy via job creation (it is estimated that for every 100 units of new social housing 80 construction jobs and 30 ongoing jobs are created). It is clear that providing housing to vulnerable people is an early intervention and prevention strategy for the people and places we live in.
A recently commissioned industry body report estimates that the South West Region needs 5,600 new homes by 2041. To do this, the social and affordable housing stock needs to grow by an average of 5.8% pa over this period: the equivalent of an additional 200-300 homes every year. Our Community Housing sector colleagues and Housing Australia and the Department of Communities are all playing their parts to achieve, opening the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) facility to provide co-investment finance for 40,000 social and affordable homes is however new and very encouraging and can lead to innovation that is meaningful for our region.
Accordwest – taking action
Accordwest has grown and evolved since we first started in Bunbury in 1983 and is now recognised as the South West’s trusted advocate for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. With over 40 years in the South West, we are uniquely positioned to launch an exciting new initiative with the potential to drive meaningful change in a way that actions our strategic plan to support people. Experiencing hardship and disadvantage to live the life they choose to live by supporting them to better manage their lifestyle, health, relationships, and general wellbeing.
Accordwest CEO Evan Nunn said while the HAFF was a high-level government initiative, it presented an exciting opportunity the South West had to grasp with both hands.
“Our vision to build at least 100 social homes is built on a core belief that homelessness is something we can solve through community partnerships.” he said. “We’ve got to do better – and we will. Together we must make Homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring.
“We have decided to take the lead by finding a way to ensure the HAFF and also State Government Grants and donations can be used to impact the homelessness problem at a local level. To ensure we could satisfy the requirements, Accordwest has the bold idea to bring together like-minded organisations in the Southwest to create a consortium that allowed us to jointly deliver projects of scale.
Now with the help of motivated partners, contributors, and volunteers at the Symposium100, we can turn vision into concrete reality.
Don’t miss the Symposium100.
If you or someone you know wants to be part of the Symposium100, RSVP by 26 April 2024. To register your attendance, as well as learn more about the event, Accordwest, and their other live projects, visit Accordwest.com.au.
PREVIOUS SUCCESSES: TINY HOUSES
Accordwest has a proven track record of bringing the community together to deliver successful outcomes. The Tiny Houses initiative, a 2017 election commitment by Don Punch, is designed to offer supported relief for people experiencing homelessness by providing the foundational security of a home, giving residents the time and space to get back on their feet. It consists of three 30m² self-contained ‘transitional accommodation’ dwellings placed on vacant land in Bunbury, partnering with the Salvation Army, Southwest Development Commission, Rotary and other local leaders, and businesses, each fitted with kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom facilities. Each Tiny House tenant works with a dedicated Housing Support Worker to secure long term accommodation, mapping out personal goals and actions to regain control of their lives. The ‘Tiny Houses’ will be removed after a short lease and relocated to where they’re most needed.
The project has been an overwhelming success, winning a Shelter WA Best regional project award, Sponsored by Rio Tinto. As part of a detailed review in June 2023, clients have expressed an appreciation of Tiny Housing in the current housing crisis. Some felt they were completely alone and had no security and now felt secure and safe. Clients expressed how they could finally breathe, were no longer worried and had peace of mind daily. Multiple clients spoke about how the project saved their life., helping them on their journey to “rebuild” their life and themself, allowing them to keep their job and their car. Multiple clients said the alternative would be on the streets, with one expressing that as an older woman, she would not have been able to survive in her car or on the streets for much longer.
Accordwest’s Tiny House Project demonstrated how partnerships between community organisations, local businesses, the local community, and State Government work effectively to address homelessness. The financial viability of the project was made possible thanks to a generous $180,000 government grant, together with in-kind work and community support and passion. Many other local agencies became involved, both in building, support and assisting most clients to transition to long-term housing.