Public housing outrage
Public housing in Geraldton has reached breaking point, with more than 800 people on the waiting list.
The average waiting time to secure a home in Geraldton is nearly two and a half years.
Many people on the waiting list face a daily struggle to get by.
Sharon Hardy and Graeme Garraway, are desperately hoping to find a home before the birth of their first child in two and a half months.
The couple has been looking for somewhere to live since November but say real estate agents would not accept them as tenants.
In the meantime, the couple are living in a caravan at Drummond Cove Holiday Park.
Mr Garraway was forced to leave his job at Geraldton Meat Exports when he went to live at the park because he had no car and couldn’t get to work.
His mother, Katie Garraway, said she had been trying to help the couple find a house.
“These kids are finding it really tough,” she said.
“They don’t have any rental history and aren’t working, so nobody will take them on as tenants.
“They keep getting knocked back.” Mr Garraway said he just wanted somewhere to call home.
“I don’t want to bring a baby home to this,” he said.
“There would be nowhere to put a cot, let alone anything else.”
Department of Housing executive director of client services Steve Altham said applicants were assessed according to their needs and eligibility.
“In order to be assessed for priorityaccommodation, an applicant must be able to demonstrate they have no option other than public housing,” he said.
The Department has called the couple in for an interview on Tuesday.
Mr Altham said the Department purchased 65 homes in the Geraldton zone in 2009/2010 and planned to build 16 more in 2011.
SAMANTHA ROBIN
