Accordwest to share over $38.9m in State Government funding to provide more social housing in the South West

One of the region’s leading crisis housing support organisations will soon offer more diverse social housing as the region continues to battle the ongoing housing crisis. Accordwest is among nine community housing origination across the State set to share in up to $38,952,155 in funding from the State Government’s Social Housing Economic Recovery Package. The funding will go towards building up to 170 new social housing homes across the State, including some based in Collie. It comes as the South West continues to battle an ongoing housing crisis which erupted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with real estate experts warning both renters and home buyers to expect another 12 months before the market eases. The new social housing properties will include a range of diverse house and unit designs offering regional-based support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people, people with disability and seniors. The social housing grant will also accommodate transitional and crisis support for woman and children who are fleeing domestic violence situations, which is a crucial element as the South West reports a 20 per cent rate rise in domestic violence. Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns welcomed the announcement and said the development was crucial in offering much needed housing and job support in the region. “This is fantastic news for the Collie community. Not only will this mean more local homes for the people who need them most, but more local jobs during construction,” she said. “It’s fantastic that the McGowan Government is investing so strongly in housing, making sure that vulnerable people in our community and across WA have access to quality homes.” Housing Minister John Carey said the access to diverse housing was crucial for different needs of disadvantaged families and singles. “One of our Government’s top priorities is to ensure we meet the diverse needs of tenants across WA, particularly those who are finding it difficult to access housing in the tight private rental market,” he said. “The grants will support projects estimated to be worth more than $60 million that will deliver new housing for a wide range of individuals and families including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, young people, people with disability, seniors, and women and children leaving family and domestic violence situations.