Homeless need help from governments

Dear Echo News,

My organisation Homelessness Australia is urging federal and state governments to act on the latest findings from the National Housing Supply and Affordability State of the Housing System 2025 released last week.

The 2025 report revealed households are under growing pressure, with increasing rental stress, and a sharp rise in people stuck in rental stress for over two years, and social housing as a proportion of all housing continuing to decline.

New data in the report reveals the direct impact of this crisis on people’s wellbeing, with renters in rental stress experiencing worsening mental health over the past decade.

New data also reveals that rental stress is increasing risk factors for homelessness, with one in four stressed renters not having savings to manage an emergency.

What’s scary about this housing crisis is there is no end in sight.

This report is the latest indicator telling us how bad things are. It’s affecting people’s mental and physical health and it has to end.

The report noted the strong connection between rental stress, lack of social housing and homelessness.

It cited data showing 280,000 people accessed homelessness services between 2023-24, and that persistent homelessness and the unmet need for homelessness services are growing.

Homelessness Australia supports the report’s recommendations to boost social housing to six per cent, with a long-term target of 10 per cent of all homes.

This report calls for bold action to address the housing crisis and provide all Australians with the stability and security of a safe, affordable home. We urge the federal government to act swiftly on this report, and to work with us to turn this crisis around.

Alongside growth in social housing we urgently need increased government investment in homelessness services to meet the growing need for support and ensure no one is turned away.

K Colvin 

Homelessness Australia CEO

Who would want to live on that tiny corner?

Dear Echo News,

In response to Midland build-to-rent development taking shape (Echo News, May 23)

Who would want to live on that tiny corner?

Not even any area outside down stairs to sit.

Not many gardens or parks around.

Closed down old pub over the road.

At least you would get to sit in your balcony and enjoy breathing in all those fumes from people’s cars off the main road out front.

No thanks.

H Monda

Re: Midland op-shop closes after 51 years

Dear Echo News

Firstly, I would like to state that the story Midland op-shop closes after 51 years (Echo News, May 16) has a definite mistake “as described by the late Guild of St Richard’s Midland co-founding member Elizabeth Herbert” Elizabeth is alive and well, living in Middle Swan.

In 1973, two ladies from Midland saw a need for an op shop to help people in the community.

The late Betty Foulkes and Elizabeth Herbert found an old butcher shop on Morrison Road and after a thorough cleaning, filled it with donated clothes and bric-a-brac. The opening day was phenomenal! A large crowd was waiting for the doors to open and it was non-stop till closing time.

This was the beginning of The Guild of St Richard in Midland.

After a while the need for a larger space was required and they found an old shop in Sayer St, Midland. St Richard’s stayed in these premises for a number of years before the owner stated that they needed the premises for themselves.

The next location was at the rear of the old bank building that sits between Great Eastern Highway and Victoria St (opp San Churros corner) They shared these premises with other charitable organisations, including a food bank.

Upon leaving there, the next location was opposite the Midland Town Hall near Kimbo’s Fashion shop. This was a great location with high visibility which served the charity well.

Upon leaving here, St Richard’s moved to their current and last position on Great Northern Highway where sadly, they will close soon.

Elizabeth Herbert is my mum and she has many fond memories of those early years of a thriving op shop that served the local community by offering very reasonably priced goods thereby being able to raise funds to support many charities over more than 51 years.

She is sad to hear that St Richard’s is closing: “It hurts my heart that St Richard’s has to close but I have a lot of memories from the days of sorting through donated goods, serving in the shop, meeting many people and helping my local community. I would like to thank everyone, past and present who have volunteered over all those years. Thank you.”

Rosemary and Elizabeth Herbert

Middle Swan