Community groups have welcomed a $210,000 government cash injection to support vulnerable women over Christmas and the summer period after they were left with nowhere to go when a critical overnight shelter was closed.
The short-term measure is designed to provide accommodation, food, clothing and other essentials while a stalemate between the City of Perth and the WA government over the location of a new emergency accommodation service continues.
Hundreds of women sought shelter at the East Perth Safe Night Space over the last few years until its recent closure.
The night space was operated by community service provider Ruah under a trial supported by the City of Perth to provide a final option for homeless women and those fleeing domestic violence.
But that stopped at the end of November, when the centre was closed after Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas cited local residents’ desire to have the Rod Evans Community Centre returned for their use.
An impasse between the state government and Mr Zempilas has continued since then, during which time some of the women who used the service have been forced to return to rough sleeping.
The government has set aside $3.1 million for Ruah to continue running the Safe Night Space at the Rod Evans centre, but Mr Zempilas is backing a proposal submitted to government by Uniting WA to take over the service and the $3.1 million in funding and run it from one of its commercial facilities in East Perth.
In either case, the City of Perth would need to approve a facility operating overnight.
( ABC News )
