Margaret River housing crisis sees families sleeping rough

The shire’s housing crisis is only getting worse, according to experts, with singles as well as whole families spotted camping in the bush, Rotary Park and even outside the local library. Housing advocates remain concerned ongoing rent spirals and the sale of family homes — to outside investors as well as those converting houses to short-stay accommodation — is only becoming more serious at a time when attention to the issue is slipping off the radar. The lack of social housing investment in the Capes region has emerged as a key gripe. Meanwhile, Shire of Augusta-Margaret River rangers have acknowledged the increase of people found sleeping rough and are diverting them to care agencies rather than issuing fines. Town-centre businesswoman Amy-Lee Tiopira told the Times she was seeing people camped out at the library and elsewhere many mornings when starting work. “There was a couple of men staying there: one with a whole set-up, and another staying under the little shelter part of the library, and a family packing down their ute every morning for about a month whilst their children got ready for school,” she said. “Last week, I came in at 6am to set up shop and there were four tents and four people under the shelter part as well as a couple of utes.” Other community members who asked not to be named said people camping overnight under shelter in town had been commonplace during the past few years. A local man who asked not to be identified said he was found by rangers camped in the bush because nearby caravan parks were full at the time. He’d since found a plot to park his vehicle, and was grateful the rangers had shown compassion when he was broke. Housing advocacy group Just Home Margaret River’s chair Naomi Godden said rough camping was the face of the region’s worsening crisis. “Just Home is aware of people sleeping rough in the region, including out bush in locations not disclosed,” Dr Godden said. “Many people are sleeping in their vehicles. The library is a safe, warm and non-judgmental place during the daytime, and is an important resource for people experiencing homelessness.” There simply were not enough affordable rentals or social housing catering to people in Augusta-Margaret River, she said. “Demand for social housing has increased significantly as people see housing in the local market as unaffordable, unsustainable and unattainable,” Dr Godden said. “However, most community members are not able to access social housing due to very low income and asset limits for eligibility. “It doesn’t look as though the housing situation in Augusta-Margaret River will improve, and in the eight years Just Home has been active, it has not been worse than it is right now.” Rangers co-ordinator Narelle Graue said the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River always sought to connect displaced or homeless people with support agencies, including Just Home. WA’s Department of Communities was unable to supply specific details of social housing planned for the shire. A $2.9 million project at the Witchcliffe Eco Village features eight units, while Margaret River Rotary, Just Home and Accordwest are developing a two-stage, 10-unit project on Clarke Road.