Western Australia's first purpose-built Common Ground housing project is finally set to open in East Perth after years of delays, providing a glimmer of hope as Perth is officially declared Australia's most unaffordable capital city for renters.
Perth's Rental Affordability Hits Crisis Point
The sobering revelation comes from the latest National Shelter's rental affordability index, which shows Perth's median rent now consumes 32 per cent of an average household's income. The situation is equally dire in regional WA, where rental affordability has plunged to a decade-low.
Housing Minister John Carey described the soaring rents as a "national challenge" that requires urgent action. "It is about supply, supply, supply, and our government is being aggressive to unlock a range of measures to boost housing supply," Mr Carey stated.
The minister emphasized that there's no single solution to the complex housing crisis. "There isn't one single silver bullet. You have to be prepared to look at all measures whether it's buying Fraser Suites, which includes 70 per cent affordable rentals, whether it is unlocking planning rules around train stations, whether it's supporting new land to get out the door."
Long-Awaited Relief for Homeless Community
Premier Roger Cook, alongside Housing Minister John Carey and Homelessness Minister Matthew Swinbourn, announced the completion of the 112-apartment Common Ground facility in East Perth on Monday. The project, first promised in 2020, has experienced significant delays.
Minister Carey attributed the holdup to pandemic-related challenges. "There was a massive steel cost escalation," he explained. "We reworked the project, and then went back out to the market, and ADCO secured it. This one is personal for me."
The first tenants are expected to move into the transformative project in 2025. The facility will provide 24-7 support services and security, specifically targeting chronically homeless individuals and rough sleepers.
Comprehensive Support Beyond Housing
Mission Australia has been awarded a five-year contract to manage the East Perth facility. Chief executive Sharon Callister expressed confidence in their approach. "We feel 100 per cent confident that we will be providing safe, secure and a transformational home, making a huge difference to the lives of those hundred or so people that will call this place home."
Callister emphasized that the project offers more than just shelter. "This is long-term housing, and it's a fabulous model because it is supported. It's not just about having an asset or a building that you can say is a house. It's absolutely a home, and it's a home where we provide tailored, wrap-around support services."
However, she acknowledged that the project alone cannot solve the broader homelessness crisis. "We know from the last census in 2021 that there are 122,000 people who are homeless every night," Ms Callister revealed.
The state government has implemented several rental reforms in response to the crisis, including banning rent bidding and restricting rent increases to once every 12 months. A second tranche of tenancy reforms is currently under consideration.
Meanwhile, construction continues on another Common Ground project featuring 50 self-contained apartments in Mandurah, scheduled to open in 2027.
