The 2023-24 Budget recognises that housing supply has been a considerable challenge in regional and metropolitan WA in recent years.
The State Government has committed an additional $750 million for housing in the Budget, with a focus on social housing, homelessness and increasing housing supply.
The largest component of this funding is a $450 million increase in the Social Housing Investment Fund, to take the total number of additional social housing dwellings to 4,000 (of which 1,200 have already been delivered).
To address homelessness, $49 million has been provisioned for the Regional Supportive Landlord Model to deliver 100 homes in regional WA, which builds on the current pilot program in Perth and Peel. The Government will also establish an Office of Homelessness to deliver the State’s 10-year homelessness strategy.
Of interest to regional Local Governments, the Regional Development Assistance Program is increased by $12 million to bolster land and housing supply in the regions. $61.6 million in additional funding has also been provided for the Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) to add new supply and refurbish existing homes. The additional funding for this initiative will assist with the attraction and retention of key workers in regional areas. It is important the State Government works with Local Governments on delivery of this significant investment to ensure it does not further tighten the housing market in regional WA.
This Budget maintains the freeze of GROH rents. The Department will also spend $1.1 million to undertake a comprehensive review and reform of the GROH program.