WA Rental crisis sees 100 pregnant women across the South West living without a fixed address

At least 100 pregnant women are believed to be living without a fixed address in the State’s South in what could be the harshest reality of the housing crisis crippling WA. Service providers and not-for-profits say they have seen a massive hike in the number of pregnant women without a permanent home as the number of rentals and public housing continue to dry up. Groups and volunteers supporting expecting mothers with initiatives such as care packs estimate there are more than 100 struggling to find a place to live in the South West. The issue reached State Parliament yesterday, when Opposition Leader Mia Davies asked for a guarantee women giving birth at local hospitals would be supported and questioned whether there was a risk they could be separated from their newborns if they did not have a fixed address. Community Services Minister Simone McGurk said everything was done to make sure that people are given emergency accommodation. “It is my understanding that children are never taken into the care of child protection simply because there is no accommodation available for the mother,” she said. “We are well aware that there are housing pressures throughout the state with the demands on private rentals as well as in the public system.” WA Country Health Service said there were extensive protocols in place for the identification of babies at risk. “We work with the Department of Communities on a plan and do not discharge babies (from hospital) without secure housing,” a spokesperson said. Among the groups attempting to help women in the South is the Australind Lions Cub, which has made care packs for people struggling to find accommodation. Volunteer Melanie Baruffi said there were more than 100 packs needed for coming months for young mothers and pregnant women. “It’s a hard situation to put a number on because there’s a lot of people that go under the radar and it’s across the board,” she said. ALC member Sue Stevens said the packages — which include baby wipes, nappies, clothing, blankets, sanitary items and other essentials — would be prioritised for people leaving hospital with nothing. “Between COVID and the recent increase in rental price, it’s between the devil and the deep blue sea,” she said. National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project co-ordinator Gerry Georgatos said there were “scores” of pregnant women and young mothers in the South doing it tough. “There are pregnant women on the streets youth and older, we work with youth who are 16 years of age, they’re pregnant and homeless, in all forms of homelessness,” he said. “In terms of young women on the streets, mothers on the streets, in some form of homelessness all throughout the South West and Great Southern there would be more than a hundred for sure.” Anglicare WA South West service manager Cathy Mills said the recent Statewide shortage of available housing had seen a surge in homelessness in the region, with many people affected facing it for the first time. “Our outreach team in Bunbury has definitely noticed more people experiencing homelessness and sleeping rough around the city,” she said. Ms Mills said many vulnerable women, especially those who are pregnant or have children, will choose to sleep in their cars or in tents rather than be street present. Real Estate Institute of WA vice chairman Joe White said the rental crisis was impacting a number of vulnerable groups. “We have seen rents increase by 10 to 15 percent we do have a welfare issue for those that are the most vulnerable and who simply cannot find the money to pay that extra rent,” he said. “There are some seriously vulnerable groups out there, particularly single women with kids.”