The blame game has started between the state government and City of Perth over the closure of a homeless centre despite a funding offer of $3.1 million.
The blame game has started between the state government and City of Perth over the closure of a homeless centre despite a funding offer of $3.1 million.
City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas last night addressed the impending closure of the Safe Night Space crisis accommodation for women, which has operated from the Rod Evans Community Centre in East Perth since May 2021.
Homelessness Minister John Carey confirmed the state government has offered the city $3.1 million funding to continue the program until December 2025.
Ruah Community Services has operated Safe Night Space, in partnership with the city, since the start of the trial.
At the city’s agenda briefing forum on Tuesday, Mr Zempilas said Safe Night Space was always intended as a two-year trial and was extended until November 30 after a council decision.
“The Safe Night Space was supposed to close in May of this year, but at the February council meeting council voted to extend the safe night space operation for a further six months to meet the need and until the state government was able to open a new crisis centre in West Perth,” he said.
“And to give more time for other alternative arrangements to be made.
“It is important to note that twelve months ago I informed the premier of the day that the Safe Night Space two-year trial was due to end in May this year. Homelessness Minister John Carey was also in attendance at the meeting.
“I asked [the] premier [Mark] McGowan to consider taking over the funding of the operation … he declined.”
Mr Carey told Business News that Mr Zempilas’ recollection of the meeting was wrong.
“The former premier advised the city that the government was open to top-up funding and would consider it, but no proposals were provided by the city,” Mr Carey said.
“At the end of the day, rehashing history just distracts from the facts before us.
“The state stands ready to fund the ongoing operations of the Safe Night Space. The City of Perth just has to keep the doors open.”
However, Mr Zempilas also criticised the timing of the $3.1 million funding.
“Despite me first raising the closure of Safe Night Space with the state government 12 months ago and that decision being confirmed in this chamber in February, at 6pm last Friday night – nine months after and just two weeks before the closure – I received a letter from Minister Carey saying the state government was now prepared to provide funding to keep the centre operating,” he said.
“That offer came at the eleventh hour.
“In February of this year, council confirmed the Safe Night Space would close on November 30.
“Everybody was given ample notice this closure was coming and the city intended to return the Rod Evans Centre to community use as requested by our community.”
Mr Carey has hit back on Mr Zempilas’ comments on the timing of the commitment and the reference to community's wishes for Rod Evans centre to be returned.
“I can confirm the Office of Homelessness has been working with the service to find another location and all advice is that there are not suitable locations available that would see the continuation of the service in the short to medium term,” Mr Carey told Business News.
“All other considered locations would require either significant refurbishment, planning approvals or are too close to residential areas which would see the service close for a significant period of time.
“Regarding the Rod Evans Community Centre, the building was vacant for many years prior to the service being established.
“As the local member [for Perth], I know that there are many locals who support services for homelessness and family and domestic violence in the city.
“It is likely the Rod Evans Community Centre will continue to be significantly underutilised if the closure goes ahead, and I believe the City of Perth knows this as well.”
“That is why I am asking the city to reconsider its position and allow Ruah to continue its important service in East Perth, at the Rod Evans Centre.”
The pair also clashed on the initial funding for the trial, with Mr Zempilas last night saying the city was proud of its $4 million contribution while Mr Carey claimed the Perth ratepayers did not fund the service in its entirety.
Mr Carey said the state government provided the $4.3 million of funding towards the homelessness initiative via the Perth City Deal.
Planning for the future
Earlier this month, Shelter WA made a plea to keep the Safe Night Space open after Ruah was unable to secure an alternative location.
The city opened a registration of interest process last month to repurpose the Rod Evans facility into a community centre.
“Following some light renovation works, it is expected that the Rod Evans Centre will be open for community use by February 2024,” the city said on its website.
According to the city, the Safe Night Space program has sheltered more than 700 people since May 2021.
Premier Roger Cook has weighed in on the debate, saying the Safe Night Space was a successful service for women who were sleeping rough.
"It was a good service, that's why when the City of Perth announced that they wouldn't be defending that service, we stepped in," he said yesterday.
"We said 'look, if you can't afford to run it for whatever reason, the state government is willing to run that service with the $2 million grant'.
"All we asked is that we could continue utilising the facility that was being used. My understanding is that request has been refused. That's very disappointing.
“It is disappointing that the City of Perth decided to defund this and now refuse to allow us to utilise that facility even though we're prepared to pay for the service as a state government, we want them to do the right thing."
