Margaret River's Hidden Homelessness Crisis

0:00A new survey in Margaret River, that famous tourism spot 270 km south of Perth, uncovered a hidden homelessness crisis. Shire Rangers and volunteers talked to 43 locals and 25 seasonal workers over three days, finding folks without stable homes. This Shire of 19,000 people thinks it's just scratching the surface, with middle-aged men making up most of those surveyed, median age, 45. High rinse at $800 a week don't help. Especially with 10-12% of houses turned into vacation rentals even higher than other coastal spots. The survey spotted a 75-year-old sleeping rough, a 25-year-old, and 12 kids from nine families without proper shelter. One guy has been homeless for over 30 years. Shire President Julia John Rice called the results shocking and is doubling down on calls for more local services in crisis housing. His home coordinator Shona Hunter agrees the numbers show how bad the housing crunches for the growing population.

1:01The Shire defends its rules, limiting holiday homes to certain areas to protect permanent housing supply. Meanwhile, homelessness minister Matthew Swinborn says the government already funds 10 support services in the southwest and pumped in 5 million. Dollars last year, he wants the Shire stepping up too. This snapshot pushes Margaret River to tackle its dual life of tourist paradise and hidden struggles, sparking real talk on balancing booms with homes. For everyone, from your city, powered by AI, this is Sydney News Today.