Michelle Mackenzie

This year’s Homelessness Week brought together business, government and not-for-profits to figure out how to meet Australia’s affordable and social housing needs.

Iain Shields is acutely aware of the challenges around social housing, having experienced them personally in the UK and then in a professional capacity in Australia.

The state government has announced a 10-year homeless strategy, with $72 million to fund the construction of two facilities in Perth to house people experiencing chronic homelessness.

City officials and service providers say helping Perth’s homeless requires more investment from federal and state governments.

The state government has set up an advisory group, with executives from more than 20 businesses and community groups, to provide advice on the impacts of COVID-19 and measures to help economic recovery.

Perth house prices jumped 1.1 per cent last month and are selling at the fastest rate since 2006, new data released today shows.

A consortium led by Aboriginal-owned business Noongar Mia Mia has earned a $7 million contract to help support the state government’s housing first homeless initiative.

Nearly two-thirds of voters have cited homelessness as a major issue ahead of the state election, with efforts to build social and affordable housing drawing broad support.