What is Homes for Good?
Homes for Good is an initiative that asks people who have any vacant or under-utilised accommodation to consider using it for local people who need affordable housing.
The Homes for Good initiative is growing a centralised accommodation register. This register enables people and businesses across WA to make unused homes and accommodation (including commercial space) available for people who need safe and affordable places to call home.
Why does Homes for Good exist?
There are over 194,000 people in need of safe and affordable housing. Furthermore, during a state of emergency like a fire, flood, cyclone or pandemic such as COVID-19, even more people in our communities need access to safe and affordable housing.
Available Homes for Good accommodation can be used at any time as a ‘hand up, not handout’, for people in need of long-term affordable housing, as well as during times of emergency.
How to help
The WA community is strong, innovative, and collaborative. When people around us need our help, we step up.
The community spirit, goodwill and contributions offered to people in our communities doing it tough can be evidenced by our overwhelming response to the Wooroloo Bushfire. From the courageous emergency service responders – many of whom are volunteers – to those offering shelter, food and drink and other types of support, we wanted to look after each other.
For the time being, you can help by being part of a coordinated response by submitting:
- Homes for Good: any vacant or available properties, including houses, Air B&B’s or other unused holiday homes, hotel rooms, short-term rental properties, and commercial space.
- Management and support capacity: including community housing providers, property managers, government departments, hoteliers and self/private managers. Also including community services such as emergency service and emergency relief, family and domestic violence services, and services that specialise in areas such as seniors, disability and mental health.
- Housing need: anyone requiring safe and affordable accommodation, including seniors, low-income earners, anyone fleeing unsafe environments such as family and domestic abuse, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, as well as anyone needing to move or find accommodation as a result of an emergency such as a fire, flood, cyclone or pandemic.
What else can you do to help?
You don’t need to own a home, be a housing or community service provider, or be someone who needs a home or accommodation to be a part of The Home Hub’s affordable housing movement.
Homes for Good is an opportunity for us all to come together and help others who need us by:
- Sharing us – post your own or share our messages, including blog posts, happy stories, and social media posts. Like us, follow us, and be a part of saving lives locally in WA.
- Digital marketing banners and links – we have digital banners and links that you can put on your websites and digital marketing newsletters, on your social media and in your retail shop windows. Be a part of Homes for Good, show your support, and help your staff and consumers, who may be using The Home Hub right now or in the future.
- Donations – we’re a community-led charity established by people in WA who weren’t paid for over 12 months because they know how it feels to need a home. You can support us, the people we’re helping, and our affordable housing movement by donating to us.
As a registered charity with Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, any donations made to The Home Hub that are over $2 will be tax exempt. If you would like to support The Home Hub, Homes for Good and the effort to save lives through a coordinated housing and homelessness response, donate here.
Where can I get information or advice on my rights and responsibilities?
For more information on housing and accommodation rights and responsibilities, tools and resources, and to access legal advice, please contact the WA Department of Commerce.