People applying for public housing in Collie will have to wait more than a year until being housed, according to the Department of Communities.
From July 30, there were a total of 36 applications for public housing in Collie and in a period of 12 months only 14 households from the waiting list were actually housed.
Collie Family Centre manager Sharon Thompson said there was a “high demand” for public housing in Collie.
“Every one within the public housing situation have stated how long the waiting list is,” she said.
“I know housing are under high demand for clients applying for housing, but I feel there should be an even process with applications of new clients and review why it’s gotten to the stage it has with the waiting period.
“There are so many people in transit because they need to move to a town with resources so they can get by in life.”
Mrs Thompson said the centre had people regularly looking for support and assistance filling in the required forms and documents from the department.
“We are assisting on a daily basis with our clients with their housing needs, ranging from bond assistance, maintenance issues, eviction notices and transfer applications,” she said.
“More housing options – private rental, block of flats, farm housing need to be available. I wish I had the answer but this is an issue that needs urgent attention within our community that has been going on way to long and the sad thing it is happening everywhere.”
At July 31 this year there were 2,517 public housing properties in the South West region, of which 203 being located in the Shire of Collie, last year there were only 194.
Last year, there were 43 applications for public housing and only 24 were housed between the 2016-17 period.
The number of people applying for housing has decreased but the number of people still waiting has increased.
The average waiting time is 57 weeks, but has been reduced by over half from the previous year of 114 weeks.
Department of Communities regional and remote services assistant director Rachael Green said the Government’s Affordable Housing Action Plan reflected the department’s focus on connections between people, place and home.
“The department strives to meet the housing needs of all applicants on the waiting list at the earliest possible opportunity,” she said.
“Factors influencing the time an applicant may wait include the area in which housing is being sought, turnover of properties in the region, the type of accommodation required and the number of people ahead of the applicant on the wait list.
“An applicant who can demonstrate an urgent need may be placed on the priority wait list, however they must still wait for a suitable property to become available.”
Shire of Collie president Sarah Stanley said the shire continue to advocate for individual and family support in the community.
“A year is a long time for anyone to be without a place to call home, which is just one of the many reasons that economic development continues to be our most urgent strategic priority,” she said.
“More jobs in town means more people have the income to afford housing and wait lists are reduced.”
