Support organisation calls on Government to speed up Mandurah Common Ground as city faces ‘severe’ crisis

The State Government has been called on to bring the opening date of the long-awaited Mandurah Common Ground development forward to address the region’s “severe” homelessness crisis.

The 50-unit Common Ground facility will provide permanent homes for adults who have experienced chronic homelessness, rough sleeping or are earning a low income.

The units, to be built on the corner of Allnutt and Dower streets, will open in 2026 and will be co-located with social support services.

But PeelConnect co-ordinator Chelsea Gildea said the opening date needed to be brought forward as Mandurah was in the grips of a “critical crisis” of homelessness.

“We believe it is among the most severe we have ever witnessed,” she said.

“The impact of COVID-19 combined with the rising cost of living has led to a significant increase in homelessness, exceeding the capacity of services like ours and the available housing supply to adequately respond to the growing need.”

Ms Gildea said immediate action was needed and likened it to a response after a natural disaster.

“Recent events, such as the prompt response to the Dwellingup/Waroona bushfires with the immediate set up of a shelter, highlight how quickly emergency accommodations can be provided when deemed necessary,” she said.

“We question why the same urgency and action cannot be extended to address homelessness, which is undoubtedly an emergency situation in its own right.”

She said the State Government needed to “promptly accelerate” the development of the Common Ground facility.

The project recently hit its latest milestone, with the tender process to secure a contractor to build the planned six-storey development opening on March 26.

Construction was delayed last February from the first half of 2023 to this year, with its opening also delayed by two years from 2024 to 2026 — six years after it was first announced.

A spokesperson for the Department of Communities did not respond to a request for a timeline of the development’s construction beyond the tender closing date of April 30 but said “further announcements” would be made when the preferred tenderer had been selected.

Ms Gildea said an emergency relief measure was the establishment of a night shelter.

“While the Government’s long-term plan to build more houses is commendable, as demonstrated by the delays with the Common Ground development, such solutions take time — time that our rough sleepers simply do not have,” she said.

“With winter approaching, we are already witnessing a significant number of rough sleepers seeking tents, blankets, and sleeping bags.”

“(A night shelter) would offer protection from the harsh weather conditions, along with access to essential facilities such as showers, toilets, and clean water.

“Most importantly, it would be a place where individuals can feel secure and free from the risks of assault, theft, or harm to their belongings.”

Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell also called on the State Government to progress Mandurah Common Ground “as fast as possible”.

“The Mandurah Common Ground was announced more than three years ago, so the community’s frustration with the time it’s taken to commence is understandable,” she said.

“We also appreciate the challenges and lessons learned as the model unfolds in WA.

“There are record numbers of people experiencing homelessness across all regions in WA, and our services are stretched to breaking point with record numbers of people seeking assistance.”

Ms Snell said in March 2024, the By-Name List, a live record that lists every person experiencing homelessness in a community by name, showed there were 152 people experiencing homelessness in Mandurah — with 112 of them sleeping rough.

In September, Mandurah was recognised as being only the second Australian city to show a measurable reduction in homelessness, with almost 100 people on the list housed since January 2023.

Ms Gildea said at the time she had seen a reduction in homelessness in the city, especially in the number of families seeking support, but saw a spike in August and believed those experiencing homelessness in Perth were moving to regional areas.

“Many individuals experiencing homelessness are now transitioning from urban areas like Perth to regional locations such as Kwinana, Rockingham, Mandurah and even as far as Pinjarra and Waroona,” she said.

“Additionally, we are witnessing a concerning rise in homeless families migrating to these areas, further exacerbating the housing crisis.

“The Mandurah Rough Sleepers Coordination Group, which meets fortnightly, is making commendable efforts in collaborative problem-solving to assist clients. However, the current initiatives are not sufficient.”

Homelessness Minister John Carey said the State Government was “investing an unprecedented $2.6 billion in housing and homelessness measures over four years”.

Mr Carey did not respond when asked if he would support a night shelter in Mandurah, but said the State Government was “always looking at new and innovative reforms to support rough sleepers”.

“The State Government, through the Department of Communities recently advertised a tender for the construction of Mandurah Common Ground, while major construction works are under way for the East Perth Common Ground project,” he said.

“As an interim measure, the State Government is assisting rough sleepers and people at risk of homelessness into 100 social homes in a supported landlord model in partnership with Housing Choices.”

Mr Carey said the model had added 20 properties across the Peel region which had supported more than 40 people.