WHAT better time than during Homeless Persons Week to reflect on where our priorities are. Amidst all the griping that we don’t have enough Olympic gold medals, we should reflect on the 14,000 people who are homeless in WA.
Homelessness is a complex issue contributed to by poverty, unemployment, a lack of affordable housing and personal circumstances such as discrimination, domestic violence, disability and poor mental health.
Recent data shows rental prices in Perth are increasing faster than any other capital city, and the median house price is now seven times the average annual income.
People on low incomes are much more likely to have to make tough choices between essentials such as rent, utilities and food and may be forced to forgo social and recreational activities.
The choices made by this Government to fund its pet projects rather than deal with substantive issues of access and equality affect us all. There are no gold medals for that.