UnitingCare West receives $2.4m from State Government

The State Government has allocated $2.4 million to UnitingCare West's HomeConnect housing service, which helps secure affordable rental accommodation for at-risk families.

The full text of an announcement from Child Protection Minister Sue Ellery is pasted below

Accessing affordable housing will become easier for hundreds of Western Australians following a State Government commitment of $2.4million to expand the UnitingCare West HomeConnect housing service.

Child Protection Minister Sue Ellery said the three-year funding to service provider UnitingCare West would help more Western Australians access affordable housing.

"We currently live in an environment of increasing demand and unprecedented housing market conditions," Ms Ellery said.

"HomeConnect will help families and individuals to access housing in the public, community and private housing markets, while also linking people to other services including financial counselling and family support organisations.

"The service will be able to put in a good word for people who may be new to the private rental market and don't have references or reassure real estate agents that past poor tenancy records are no longer a justified concern."

The program is provided by UnitingCare West and builds on the Homelink service, which has assisted more than 440 families and individuals secure private rental accommodation in the past four years.

"The service is an innovation of one of the State's largest church-based services, UnitingCare West, and is also supported by the State Government and Lotterywest," the Minister said.

"Working with public and community housing providers, as well as real estate agents, this service is giving day-to-day practical support.