Find out about the City’s Homelessness Response and useful resources for those experiencing homelessness and crisis situations.
What is homelessness?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) definition states that when a person does not have suitable accommodation alternatives, they are considered homeless if their current living arrangement:
- Is in a dwelling that is inadequate
- Has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable
- Does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations.
How do people become homeless?
The causes of homelessness are numerous and complex. Contributing factors that increase the risk of homelessness are classified as ‘causal factors’ and these include:
- Financial stressors, including poverty, lack of affordable housing and available rental housing, lack of superannuation in retirement, and cost of living pressures
- Vulnerability of people exiting facilities such as prison, care facilities, hospitals, and drug and alcohol treatment
- Health including physical, mental, and disability
- System failures and structural factors
- Individual circumstances, including family and domestic violence, discrimination, addictions, and traumatic events
- Global events including pandemics, war, economic collapse.
Useful resources for homelessness and crisis
- WA Connect search for needs locally - food, overdue bill assistance, accommodation
- Stirling Libraries free Wi-Fi, ‘Ask a Librarian’, and seating
- Free Wi-Fi Zones at Stirling Libraries, Leisure Centres and Administration Building
- Public Toilet Map free public conveniences, based on your location.
- MoneySmart free information to improve the financial capability of all Australians
- Financial Counselling Association WA free, government funded financial counselling
- Northern Suburbs Community Legal Centre combination of legal, social and financial support.
- Entrypoint Perth free assessment and referral service for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- WA Reconnect Providers support for 12 - 21 year olds and their families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- WA Connect search for crisis accommodation providers near you.
- All Paths Lead to Home Western Australia’s 10 Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020 - 2030
- Housing Support Department of Social Services
- Seniors Housing free independent advice covering full range of options for seniors.
- Shelter WA peak body that advocates for affordable housing and ending homelessness in Western Australia
- WA Alliance to End Homelessness alliance of individuals and organisations.
- My Health Care Options explore options available from the WA Primary Health Alliance
- Green Book directory of alcohol, other drugs and mental health service providers
- My Services directory for immediate help with mental health, alcohol or drug support
- Think Mental Health free mental health information and resources.
Find support services near you
Members of our community may be experiencing difficulties and need some extra support. As rental prices continue to rise, more and more people are sleeping rough. It is important that the community is aware of support is available. Everyone needs extra support at one time or another.
Below is a map showing the support services available to people located within the City of Stirling. These services may be geographically located within the City, service people within the City or operate online (current as of June 2023). Please use this map to search for supports services near you.
Please refer to 'how to use the map' for information about the types of search categories available.
The search categories you can use in this map are:
- Communication - public phones, Wi-Fi
- Aboriginal & TSI supports – diabetes, employment, alcohol & drug counselling.
- Mental Health – mental health consultations, web chat, email counselling
- Multicultural Services – disability support, budgeting, accommodation
- Disability Support – respite, therapy, accommodation, employment
- Medical/counselling – grief support, alcohol & drug services, healthcare services
- Legal services - family, criminal, fines, debts, and protection matters.
- Financial counselling - budgeting, debt stress, overdue bills,
- Day Centres – seniors care, group activities, food, clothing, referrals
- Women’s Refuge & Support – housing, outreach, counselling, safety planning
- Housing support/transitional – tenant rights, landlord disputes, supported housing.
- Food & clothing – food parcels, second hand clothing and household items
- Hygiene – laundry and showers
- Crisis accommodation – referrals, overnight accommodation, food, clothing
Search the map and find where these supports are located or available in four easy steps:
- Place your cursor in the section ‘service required’.
- Start to type and select your category from any of those listed above.
- Click on the magnifying glass to bring up your search results.
- Click on any of the services listed to find out the location, contact details and more information about the service.
