Ruah relocation plan refused

The City of Perth has knocked back Ruah Community Services' bid to relocate its Northbridge community centre, only leaving several months for the organisation to find an alternative.

The city councillors refused Ruah's proposal to move into a two-storey building on 247-249 James Street, Northbridge, which is currently used as an education facility by the Skills Institute of Australia, at a meeting last night.

Ruah's current single-storey outreach centre on the north-west corner of the Shenton and John streets intersection, also in Northbridge, will be replaced with its new Centre for Women and Children.

The $15 million seven-storey Centre for Women and Children was approved by the state government's City of Perth Local Development Assessment Panel in early April.

Ruah proposes the relocated centre will provide services for people experiencing homelessness, including linking people with accommodation and specialist services, alcohol and other drug support, mental health and legal services.

Other services include providing emergency relief and light food.

Ruah chief executive Debra Zanella said conversations with the city's chief executive officer about possible alternative locations were continuing.

Ms Zanella said the exact date for the demolition of the current outreach centre on Shenton Street was not yet determined but would be in the second half of this year, with August as the potential mark.

"People do value the work that we do but the work that we do is really confronting to a lot of people," she said.

"What really breaks my heart is outside the exterior presentation... these are human people in need of human care. I don't want to live in a city where these people don't belong.

"I don't think we can underestimate how difficult it is to live on the streets. There are circumstances that occur in people's lives that cause them to live on the streets."

The City's general manager Dale Page recommended the council approve to change the use of the building from education to community, for Ruah to move into the facility.

However, councillors decided to refuse the proposed change of use after reviewing the 71 submissions from the public, with 64 objecting to Ruah's relocation.

"Proposed use is inconsistent with the statement of intent for the Northbridge precinct to provide a diverse, interesting and dynamic inner city precinct that will be promoted as an attractive destination for the local population and interstate and overseas visitors," the council resolution said.

"The proposal does not adequately address community concern relating an increase in antisocial behaviour, a reduction in public safety, loss of residential amenity and an adverse impact on business."

Ms Zanella said Ruah was pursuing legal options regarding the council's decision while also looking closely with its allies.

"It's an engagement hub, it's a drop-in centre; it help people complete housing applications, receive Centrelink communications," she said.

"This is why people all around the world experience homelessness.

"They're (people experiencing homelessness) not choosing Northbridge to annoy the people in Northbridge, it's because it's where the resources and amenities are located."

City deputy lord mayor Di Bain said while she supported Ruah's work, she did not agree with the report authored by Ms Page which classified people experiencing homelessness as part of the definition for "community" use of the building.

"The proposed use of the land as a centre for homeless people will not provide social services or facilities primarily for the benefit of people who live in the surrounding locality," she said.