COMMUNITIES —
SERVICE PROVIDERS — HOMELESSNESS
97. Hon Dr BRAD PETTITT to the Leader of the House
representing the Minister for Homelessness:
(1) Is the Department of Communities providing service
providers with funding specifically for, or a supply of —
(a) rapid antigen
tests for clients and staff; and
(b) appropriate personal
protective equipment for essential workers and frontline staff?
(2) Is the
Department of Communities providing people who are experiencing homelessness —
(a) a safe place
to isolate while waiting for a PCR test result; and
(b) support and
accommodation if they test positive for COVID-19?
(3) Is the
Department of Communities working with the Department of Health to provide
specific funding for homelessness service providers to deliver vaccines to
people experiencing homelessness? If yes to (3), could the minister please
provide a breakdown of funding provided, and to whom?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) (a)–(b)
The state government will be providing rapid
antigen tests and other appropriate PPE to community service
organisations.
(2) (a)–(b)
If an individual requiring to self-isolate
is referred by WA Health to Department of Communities, emergency welfare
and accommodation support will be provided.
(3) The
vaccination effort is being led by the state Vaccine Commander in conjunction
with WA Health. To increase the vaccination
rate among people experiencing homelessness, WA Health and specialist homeless
organisations have provided pop-up vaccination clinics in locations frequented
by people experiencing homelessness.