Community housing call to cut wait list

Kim Macdonald, The West Australian Updated February 5, 2013, 2:11 am

The West Australian ©

A welfare group is calling on the next State government to give up responsibility for public housing.

The Community Housing Coalition WA wants the not-for-profit sector to take over the running of nearly 37,000 State properties and find accommodation for more than 21,000 people on the waiting list.

Labor said the idea warranted further investigation but Housing Minister Terry Redman would not say whether it would be considered.

CHC chief executive Barry Doyle said State tenants paid a quarter of their income as rent. Under a community housing system, there would be more money available to reinvest in housing stock because tenants would also be eligible for Commonwealth rental assistance of up to $160 a fortnight.

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