- 2023-24 State Budget to provide $511 million in new social housing and homelessness investment for initiatives across Western Australia
- McGowan Government boosting social housing delivery with additional $450 million investment in the existing Social Housing Investment Fund
- New Keystart loan program to boost housing supply
The McGowan Labor Government is continuing to deliver a record investment in social housing and homelessness measures, providing a $511 million injection in the 2023-24 State Budget to boost housing supply – particularly for those in need.
An additional $450 million will be invested into the Social Housing Investment Fund, which is part of the McGowan Government’s record now-$2.6 billion investment in housing and homelessness services in WA, including the delivery of 4,000 social housing dwellings and refurbishments and maintenance works to many thousands more.
The new investment in the fund is expected to deliver around 700 additional social homes across WA and fund major refurbishments to the Department of Communities’ ageing housing stock to ensure dwellings can continue to house vulnerable Western Australians now and into the future.
As part of the McGowan Government’s homelessness reforms, $49 million is being provisioned in the Budget for a pilot program to partner with community housing organisations to provide 100 supported landlord homes for people experiencing rough sleeping in regional Western Australia
The McGowan Government has also made amendments to Keystart’s pilot Urban Connect program that will mean one-bedroom apartments are now eligible under Urban Connect. A new Keystart Loan Program will also be introduced to enable customers to secure pre-sale off-the-plan properties.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“WA’s strong Budget position means we can continue to drive major investments in social housing and homelessness measures.
“The 2023-24 Budget will inject $511 million into housing and homelessness initiatives, supporting the most vulnerable members of our community across the State.
“This additional $511 million investment takes my Government’s total spend on social housing and homelessness measures to $2.6 billion, and will help to improve the quality and accessibility of social housing for thousands of Western Australians in need.
“We’re also assisting more Western Australians to achieve their home ownership goals through changes to Keystart’s Urban Connect ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Loan making more dwellings eligible.”
As stated by Housing Minister John Carey:
“The McGowan Government is doing all it can to boost social housing, including working to retain ageing social housing properties where possible and investing in alternative construction methods, as part of its reforms to accelerate the delivery of social housing across Western Australia.
“Since the McGowan Government’s record investment in social housing and homelessness measures, we’ve added more than 1,200 social homes, with nearly 1,000 social homes currently under contract or construction.
“The 2023-24 State Budget highlights our commitment in supporting the most vulnerable members of our community with a $511 million investment in housing and homelessness initiatives – including adding 100 supported landlord homes for people experiencing rough sleeping in regional Western Australia.”
