Member for Bunbury Don Punch stresses need for housing support for older single women

This comes after Mr Punch hosted a housing forum last week with state government minister Peter Tinley.

Mr Punch said the forum highlighted the complexity of housing and the surrounding issues it inherits.

“There is a waiting list for housing in Bunbury and the biggest is for singles housing, we have a lot of multiple bedroom housing but don’t have a lot of building for singles,” he said.

“The minister indicated with work in Withers and other developments within the greater Bunbury area that they are looking at how to address that imbalance.”

Mr Punch said the government, along with other agencies such as Accordwest were working towards trying to meet the needs of the most vulnerable people.

“I’m concerned about the hidden amount of older women who don’t have sufficient income resources and who are not necessarily living on the streets but are living in their cars or couch surfing with friends. So highly at risk of ending up not having any form of shelter at all,” he said.

Mr Punch also called on the federal government to pull their weight on the issue.

“Commonwealth have to get serious in this space as well, it’s no good standing off to one side and saying it’s terrible but at the same time not providing sufficient income support that enables people to maintain even a shared house,” he said.

Forrest MP Nola Marino said the Commonwealth has provided more than $147 million to the WA government for social housing this financial year.

“Just last month I announced over $1 million to Accordwest for counselling, family mediation and practical support for young people and their families finding accommodation,” she said.

Accordwest chief executive officer Neil Hamilton said the agency was working on providing housing for women over 50.

Including the new development on Forrest Avenue for youth which has opened up transitional housing elsewhere for women 50 and over.

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