Local support organisations say they are struggling to provide services for the growing population of people experiencing homelessness in Fremantle.
Demand for services has grown with the number of people experiencing homelessness and financial disadvantage doubling at the start of the year, a City of Fremantle spokeswoman said.
Greens MLC and former Mayor of Fremantle Brad Pettit said the issue is not isolated to Fremantle.
“Western Australia had the largest jump in terms of numbers of rough sleepers of any state in the last reporting period,” Mr Pettit said.
“We’ve got this horrible situation now where people are employed but are facing homelessness because there is a shortage of housing… we have got a dire situation unfortunately.”
Every day of the week, six separate support groups serve meals at the carpark and Orange Sky Laundry provides showers and laundry services three times a week.
Fremantle Council said as the numbers have increased, they have needed to install a container for storage of dining furniture and better lighting to groups serving food at a carpark on Beach Street, the city spokeswoman said.
Additionally, the spokeswoman said the City of Fremantle plans to redevelop the St Patrick’s Community Support Centre building and include facilities for charity meal providers.
However, this project is still a few years away.
St. Patrick’s Community Support Centre (St Pats) has reported a significant increase in homelessness, with 1,315 people experiencing homelessness in Perth and Fremantle as of April 2024.
A representative from St Pats said they observed more women, families with children, and employed individuals needing support.
St Pats said last financial year, the organisation provided shelter for 535 people, but this year has been more challenging to find accommodation due to a lack of affordable housing.
St Pats rely heavily on volunteers with about 130 active members contributing services worth more than $650,000.
Mr Pettit emphasised that long-term solutions require more comprehensive government support and funding.
“If we’re going to solve homelessness, we’ve got to give everybody a home.
“We need to be working towards that model,” he said.
The Department of Communities says it invests more than $100 million in specialist services and programs for people experiencing homelessness each year.
It said in April that the state was investing $2.4 billion over four years to improve the quality and accessibility of social housing and homelessness services in the State.
