Strategy to support homeless people in Broome

The Australian Government is providing $100,000 to Broome’s Traditional Owners, Yawuru, and the Shire of Broome to develop a strategy to respond to homelessness in the region.

The Government will provide $50,000 to Yawuru through the Kimberley Institute to develop a strategy to provide suitable, safe accommodation for Indigenous visitors to Broome. Yawuru will work in partnership with the Shire of Broome to develop this strategy.

The Shire will also receive funding of $50,000 to assess the viability and construction of short term accommodation, as well as ongoing funding sources and the operation of the facility.

This will include an evaluation of whether service providers have the capacity to support people using short stay accommodation and the identification of an appropriate location and the cost and design of any new accommodation.

Many Indigenous people from across the Kimberley travel to Broome to access services.

This leads to a significant increase in short-term visitors who can’t find suitable accommodation.

This new funding builds on the Rudd Government’s commitment to build a hostel in Broome to accommodate around 24 young people needing stable, affordable accommodation while they go to school or complete training courses.

Reducing homelessness is a shared responsibility that will take a sustained financial effort and a major reform agenda by all levels of government, business, charities and the community.