KINGS HOTEL
1119. Hon
COLIN de GRUSSA to the Leader of the House representing the Minister for
Housing:
I refer to the Kings Hotel at 537
Hay Street Perth.
(1) Is the minister aware that the
Kings Hotel is currently abandoned?
(2) Has the
minister made a request to the state government to buy or lease this site for
use as homelessness accommodation or to refurbish and rent as social housing?
(3) If no to (2), will the minister consider
purchasing or leasing this site in order to help ease the cost-of-living
rental crisis currently occurring across the state?
(4) How many
other hotels are currently empty across the City of Perth and could be
refurbished or used to help ease the rental crisis and the cost-of-living
crisis across the state?
Hon SUE ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1)–(4) The
Department of Communities and the not-for-profit sector regularly review
accommodation options across the state. Accommodation options are assessed on a
range of factors including on their ability to sustain the tenancies of people
experiencing homelessness with highly complex needs, whether they meet due
diligence and value for money requirements and their alignment to a Housing
First approach. It is crucial that accommodation is appropriately located and
designed, and includes the necessary facilities and support services to meet
individual needs. Not all accommodation options are suitable for people with complex needs. The McGowan government has
provided additional capacity to accommodate up to 102 individuals,
including the addition of new low-barrier homelessness services, offering
culturally supportive accommodation.