Financial assistance introduced to help local governments, ratepayers and the community to continue
Ratepayers hardest hit by the pandemic still exempt from interest on overdue rates
Financial hardship measures introduced by the McGowan Government to protect Western Australian ratepayers hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, will be extended.
New powers exercised under the Local Government Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Act 2020 (Amendment Act) in May last year meant that residential and small business ratepayers experiencing financial hardship would not be charged interest on overdue rates.
Due to the ongoing economic effects of the pandemic, the McGowan Government will continue the measures into the 2021-22 financial year.
Without more investment, it would take 1300 years to house every person on WAâs social housing waitlist
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It would take the West Australian government more than 1300 years to house every person on the stateâs social housing waitlist at its current rate â without accounting for a âtsunamiâ of pandemic-related homelessness predicted when an eviction moratorium ends this month.
Meanwhile, in the private sector, people are spending more on rent and being forced into bidding wars, sparking fears among service providers they may flock to social housing if unable to secure accommodation.
As WA working families start to call, housing support workers face âtsunamiâ of homelessness
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With working families now calling homelessness support workers, some of who are themselves under rental stress, community services groups predict Western Australiaâs second wave of pandemic-related homelessness will be a âtsunamiâ.
Michelle McKenzie, CEO of social and affordable housing peak body Shelter WA, said demand for the sectorâs services will surge when the rental moratorium lifts at the end of March, estimating as many as 100,000 people could be affected.
As WA working families start to call, housing support workers face tsunami of homelessness smh.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from smh.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.