West Perth Aware

15/10/2026

Today I attended “The Lasting Effects of Homelessness” at the City of Perth Library.

Matt spoke powerfully about his lived experience and how he’s made it to a place of his own. A wonderful success story, fair play to him.

It’s a reminder that people are sleeping rough in our city, and they need help tonight. 🌙

How many?

Do we even know?

Is there anywhere a woman, man or child can simply walk in tonight, with no referral or appointment, and find a safe place to sleep?

The City once had a 10-year homelessness plan and a Safe Night Space trial for women. It worked, then it closed. Let’s build on what we learned.

A simple start 🤝
1. Walk-in shelter: open an existing community building, even for 20-30 people, with a bed, a meal and toilets.

2. Night outreach: experienced support workers across the C*D, Northbridge, East and West Perth.

3. Emergency accommodation: short motel stays, with State and Federal support, for those who can’t use a shared shelter.

4. One coordinated response: work with the State Government, , , , and local partners.
They already know what they’re doing.

Where could the funding come from?

Maybe partnerships with State and Federal Governments, use of city owned buildings, Lotterywest, philanthropic groups and local businesses. I’d love your ideas too.

I’ve suggested things like sponsored pink chairs, an illuminated lights trail inspired by the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a huge Christmas busk uniting buskers, schools, ECU, police bands and well-known performers might like to lend a hand.

Imagine the whole community behind one goal, to end homelessness in the City of Perth❤️🎶

I urge councillors and the Lord Mayor to ensure anyone who needs help can walk in somewhere safe tonight, not sleep in our streets, parks and doorways.

Perth doesn’t need to solve homelessness overnight, but it can lead and be a true “city of light” 💡

We can do better.

Dave Lee
Community Advocate

Newly homeless?
Call Entrypoint: 08 6496 0001 or 1800 124 684

13/10/2026

Dr Garry Hunt appointed City of Perth CEO

Acting CEO Maria Cooke did a great job, filling in for CEO Michelle Reynolds, now City of Perth Council has appointed Dr Garry Hunt PSM as CEO for 12 months, at a Special Council Meeting on Tuesday, 13 October.

Dr Hunt has over 30 years' experience as a local government CEO, including at;
City of Perth (1994-2002)
Joondalup (2005-2020)
Melville (1986-1994)

He starts on 19 October 2026

11/10/2026

Last night, before the rain, I passed a blanket in the Woolworths car park at Murray and Cook Street, I don't know whose it was or what brought them there, but I keep thinking about where they'd sleep as the weather turned. 🌧️

I don't have a current City of Perth rough sleeper count, but I'm seeing more people sleeping rough than I've seen before in West Perth, East Perth and across the city centre. 👀

The City of Perth does support people: over 26,000 meals and food packs, about 2,400 showers and more than 1,100 medical appointments in the past year and that matters, it really does. 👏

But the City says homelessness is mainly a State Government responsibility, and while different levels of government work out who leads, the burden often falls on residents, small businesses and the kindness of visitors and that isn't fair to anyone, least of all people out on our streets with nowhere to go. 💔

I wrote to the Acting CEO, Lord Mayor and all councillors last month asking for more help and received a detailed, considered reply. It wasn't what I hoped for, but I'll keep asking, because the need is growing. I believe we need a solution for tonight, every night, and a 10-year plan that helps more people get off our streets each year, not fewer. 🙏

Comments on posts like this can get heated, but behind every debate or opinion on homelessness is a real person, and we rarely know the full story, it could be domestic violence, addiction, an eviction, lost work or one bill too many, and maybe some of us are sometimes closer to needing help than we like to think. 🤝

What I'd like to see more of: 🛏️

• A safe bed without a referral, so anyone can contact a provider directly and get a place for the night

• Daytime services, showers, laundry, meals, and somewhere safe to be and keep belongings

• Outreach and case management into permanent housing

• Family shelter and youth pathways, safe homes for children in care, and school or work for those ready to get back on their feet

No one should have to sleep in a car park, doorway or behind a bin, or break into a toilet block, bike shed or storeroom to feel safe. 🚪

We can do better, and State Government 💛

10/10/2026

One of my favourite annual celebrations returns to the city tonight, the 2026 Perth Jazz Festival Launch at Brookfield Place 🎶

For the fourth year, Brookfield Place hosts eight hours of free live jazz, premium food and drinks, and late-night vibes, from 4pm to midnight, follow the music from Print Hall, Small Print, Bobèche, The Heritage W**e Bar, Bob’s Bar and Lupe’s Cervecería. WA’s emerging and established musicians will play some jazz, soul, funk, Brazilian rhythms, brass, fusion and late-night house. 🎸 🎵

The Perth International Jazz Festival, runs 22 October – 1 November 2026, so come into town this evening. listen to some tunes, grab a bit of food, catch up with family and friends, it’s all a little bit “grown-up and fancy!” 🎉 🎹

See you in the city, this Saturday night! 🎷 🎺

📍 Brookfield Place, 125 St Georges Terrace, Perth

Free entry, but tickets are required to guarantee entry, find out more here:
https://perthjazzfest.com/program/2026-pijf-launch-brookfield-place

10/10/2026

Solving Perth's homeless problem more complex than moving people on.

A story by WA state political reporter Keane Bourke

More people, from all walks of life, including dual income families, are becoming homeless, sector workers say, as rising rents and the cost of living bites.

09/10/2026

The City of Perth's Twilight Food Market is back at Forrest Place, marking 16 years of Friday night dining in the city centre.

All City of Perth car parks offer $5 night-time parking and it's a lovely night out with family and friends, especially in the lead-up to Christmas.

The market runs every Friday from 4:30pm until 24 April 2027, with more than 37 vendors serving flavours from around the world, there's plenty to discover: Tibetan momos, Italian gelato, Korean street food, Japanese onigiri, Thai cuisine and Filipino barbecue. New vendors Nana Bread and Il Panzerotto are also worth a look. I like a twisty potato while I wander around and figure it all out!

See you in the city.
Enjoy!

09/10/2026

Another city, our neighbour in Subiaco and incredibly positive news, great to see things happening https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1EuGBEHP61/

08/10/2026

There has been a bit of a clean-up in that Woolworths-owned car park, but residents tell me there are still a few needles lying around Cook and Murray Streets, West Perth.

I haven't seen any myself, and I've been out that way walking the dog, but please watch out for yourselves.

Thanks to Snap Send Solve and the City of Perth for escalating this to the car park owners and getting it tidied up.

07/10/2026

Over the weekend and the last few days, someone in need of somewhere to stay found a way into our building and made a safe place to sleep. They were very tidy, and no damage was done. 🏢

But our building is private, made up of apartments and retail space, and it's confronting for residents to learn that someone has moved through our foyer and lifts and used what they could find, including our lift drape and cushions, to set up a bed. 😔

It's heartbreaking. The City of Perth needs more safe places for people to go at night, the answer can't be ratepayers, residents and small businesses in buildings like ours, but right now there is nowhere else to go. 🙏

It isn't fair on anyone, least of all the person sleeping rough. 💔

I suspect many people sleeping rough in the C*D only need a little help. Our city doesn't know their names, if they are children, women, men, or even how many people are in need of help. 🤝

I know housing is primarily a State Government responsibility, but I believe local governments can do more through outreach, safe spaces and working with support services. 🏛️

The need is real. Let's end homelessness in the City of Perth.

If you need help or see someone who does:
�🚨 Emergency: 000
�📞 Crisis Care (24/7, Dept of Communities): 1800 199 008 or (08) 9223 1111
�🏠 Entrypoint Perth (homelessness support): (08) 6496 0001
�🧠 Mental Health Emergency Response Line (Perth metro): 1300 555 788
�💙 Lifeline: 13 11 14

07/10/2026

📬 Update on the Woolworths development in West Perth

I had a reply today from the Acting CEO of the City of Perth about the Woolworths development in West Perth. 🛒

Here's what she shared:
The Development Application approved for the supermarket is still valid, until July 2027. ✅

For now, Woolworths' developer does not intend to build the approved design. 🚫

The City's team has met with the developer's consultants about the site, including a new design. 🏗️

No new application has been lodged yet, but the City will keep assisting their consultant team. 📄

The City may have more to share in the next couple of months. 🔎

Watch this space! 👀

Thank you to Acting CEO City of Perth, Maria Cooke for taking the time to reply to my email. 🙏