THE accommodation crisis in Esperance continues to grow, with Nationals candidate for Eyre, Suzie Williams, stating that there are now more homeless families than ever before looking for emergency accommodation in our town.
Ms Williams said there were a number of factors contributing to the homeless crisis, with high rental costs being a key factor.
“Rental costs have blown out in the region, and for people on Centrelink payments this simply makes it unrealistic to afford rentals,” she said.
Currently, Esperance Crisis Accommodation is the only emergency accommodation service available – running an 18-bed safe house for women and children, as well as Lachie’s House, which provides 32 beds for short term accommodation for both genders.
Christine Smith from Esperance Crisis Accommodation said Lachie’s House has been virtually full since June 2007.
Between July 2007 and June 2008, Lachie’s House supported 229 adults and 104 children.
Other services in Esperance, such as the Gum Tree and the Restore Hope Foundation also provide assistance, including helping people to loan a caravan, but they are not funded for this type of help.
“The situation has reached crisis point,” Ms Smith said.
“Our service is expected to take clients referred by other services in Esperance who need accommodation. Clients who have mental health issues, drug and alcohol related problems – it is very difficult mixing clients with these complex issues with families and children all under one roof.
“We do and we have managed to cope with it all,” Ms Smith said.
Due to the struggle to find accommodation, Esperance Crisis Accommodation has had to extend the allowed time from six weeks to sixteen weeks on some occasions before families have been successful in renting a house.
Ms Williams said the State Government had not recognised the severity of the situation in Esperance.
“This is the hidden cost of the boom and these people simply must be supported,” she said.
“Not all regional people have the financial and social support to single-handedly bring up a family in a safe and secure home environment.”
Ms Williams and Ms Smith agreed that transitional housing could provide a solution for some of the Esperance Crisis Accommodation clients.
“The government should provide transitional housing and help with budgeting to enable homeless families to get back on their feet. This would help parents provide stability for their children and prove they can be responsible,” Ms Williams said.
Ms Smith said she would like to see families provided with supervision and assistance for at least six months, which would give families a good stepping stone before moving onto the rental market.
Chris Boland, from the Restore Hope Foundation, said the government had overlooked the issue, not just in Esperance, but across the country.
Mr Boland said the Restore Hope Foundation has been helping to house some people in caravans.
“There is nowhere else for them to go,” he said.
Mr Boland said he would love to see accommodation provided for the homeless and people suffering from mental health issues, and said the Restore Hope Foundation was currently looking towards providing supported accommodation to house these people.
Mr Boland was also involved with implementing a soup kitchen in Esperance, which he said has already attracted people in need.
“We had 13 people last Tuesday night, and we are looking for volunteers to help run it so we can provide the service on more nights.”
Mr Boland said the Restore Hope Foundation was also looking for donations of food, fridges and caravans to assist people in need.
Anyone wishing to make a donation can contact Chris Boland on 0428 712 315.
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