Perth Voice Interactive

PERTH’S Safe Night Space for women may live on at a new location in Ruah’s existing James Street facility in Northbridge.

In the meantime the Cook Government has announced $210,000 for interim emergency accommodation for women who’d otherwise have slept in the East Perth SNS before it was closed down.

The funding was described as a “Christmas miracle” by homeless advocaes Shelter WA.

Perth council – and lord mayor Basil Zempilas in particular – copped tremendous flak for bringing the East Perth trial to an end. There were online petitions and a snap rally, while the public gallery at recent council meetings has been packed and question time peppered with queries about the closure. 

But the council only funded the space in 2021 as a temporary two-year trial, a stop-gap solution run by homeless service provider Ruah until state government shelters could be brought online. 

In February the council voted to extend it for another six months, but that came due in November. By that point the council had spent around $4 million running it, and had fielded scores of complaints about behaviour of SNS attendees and their male partners. 

A $3.1m state government offer to keep the centre open only came after the council had advertised for expressions of interest from new users (“Safe space offer comes too late,” Voice, November 18, 2023).

This week’s $210,000 funding will be used to put women up at Ruah’s James Street facility, while the Cook government has offered to redirect the $3.1m to make the measure more permanent. 

“All this would require is for the City of Perth to support an extension of hours at Ruah’s James Street facility,” homelessness minister John Carey said in a December 16 statement. 

“We are continuing to assess Uniting WA’s proposal for a Safe Night Space at their Tranby facility”,  a homeless engagement hub on Aberdeen Street.

The Tranby hub is Mr Zempilas’ preferred location for the SNS. 

Perth council had opposed the James Street day centre opening up in the first place following a monumental level of opposition from nearby locals in 2022. 

The state government stepped in to approve it anyway, with then-planning minister Rita Saffioti declaring its opening to be in the public interest.