City of Rockingham reaffirms crisis accommodation advocacy amid growing concerns about local housing pressures

City of Rockingham officials have met a State housing and homelessness advocacy body to brace itself for an expected housing crisis. Rockingham mayor Deb Hamblin said homelessness and housing availability were pressing concerns for many local governments but the city faced a particularly unique challenge in the near future. She said the city anticipated a significant increase in housing demand in the area with the major defence upgrades at HMAS Stirling and the arrival of defence personnel under the AUKUS agreement. “This makes the need for investment in transitional accommodation even more critical,” Ms Hamblin said. In May 2023, Rockingham council formally adopted an advocacy position calling on the State Government to prioritise crisis accommodation in the area. Last month the council held a get-together with Shelter WA CEO Kath Snell. Issues raised included rising homelessness, housing insecurity, the urgent need for both emergency accommodation and long-term housing solutions, and their recommended solutions for targeted support where it’s needed most. Ms Snell’s visit also included site tours of grassroots service providers Liliah Haven, The Salvation Army, St Brendan’s Homeless Respite, and SCALES Community Legal Centre. “We hope that by strengthening Shelter WA’s understanding of our local circumstances, they will be better equipped to advocate for our most vulnerable,” Ms Hamblin said.