Funds win to help battlers

Local housing advocacy group Just Home is celebrating a big funding win while also looking for a new co-ordinator.

The Ian Potter Foundation awarded the group $180,000 last week for Just Home to continue its work with the residents seeking urgent housing support.

Skyrocketing rents and a shortage of stock for tenants were reinforcing the need for the local group, which already receives annual funding from the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River.

Shire councillor and Just Home chair Naomi Godden welcomed the new grant.

“Homelessness and housing stress are serious and prevalent issues in our community, and are worsened by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

“This funding enables us to keep our doors open and work with our community, partners and stakeholders to address and prevent homelessness.”

The new money would fund a three-year referral service as well as life-skills training, and development of strategic partnerships aimed at creating more social housing in the region.