HOMELESSNESS
SERVICES — BUNBURY
779. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Community Services:
I
refer to reports in the Bunbury Herald that homeless people who have
been sleeping rough at the Graham Bricknell Music Shell have been
displaced due to maintenance of the facility.
(1) Is the
minister aware where the homeless people displaced by maintenance to the music
shell have gone?
(2) Considering
it is still quite cold and wet, is the minister concerned about the welfare of
the people who have been displaced?
(3) Is the minister considering establishing a temporary
facility to provide shelter and safety to homeless people in Bunbury
similar to initiatives in the Perth metropolitan region such as the Boorloo
Bidee Mia facility?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
Hon
SAMANTHA ROWE replied:
I thank the member for some notice
of the question and provide the following answer on behalf of the Minister for
Community Services.
(1)–(2) The Housing First support service, provided by
Anglicare, provides support to the homeless people impacted by the
maintenance of the facility and is aware of where each person is located. The
Housing First support service, funded by the state government, provides an
outreach service and assists where needed with food, blankets, sleeping bags,
toiletries, housing applications and accessing medical appointments.
(3)–(4) The
Department of Communities continues to work with local service providers to
ensure an effective response to those experiencing homelessness in Bunbury and,
to this end, has facilitated conversations between support services and rough
sleepers to assist in relocating individuals and supporting them with making
alternative plans.