St Patrick’s Community Support Centre has raised $22 million for a major redevelopment project, receiving a $7.5 million contribution from the State Government and key donations from Minderoo Foundation, Lotterywest and other organisations.

The redevelopment includes 28 new self-contained apartments at 12 Queen Victoria Street in Fremantle, with the warehouse behind the building, on Beach Street, being renovated as an engagement hub with health and dental facilities.

St Pat’s chief operating officer Traci Cascioli said the engagement hub could open as early as August 2025, with the housing units, not yet in construction, set to open in late 2026.

Mrs Cascioli said the new housing units are being built along the lines of a ‘common ground’ model, where residents have access to a higher standard of living, including the support provided by the engagement hub.

“Just because people have experienced homelessness, doesn’t make them second-class citizens,” Mrs Cascioli said, explaining the importance of the comfort and appearance of the building, designed with a sleek, modern look.

The apartments, replacing the social housing units built behind St Pat’s, will complement the heritage site’s Federation Romanesque architecture, and introduce a modern look to the area, while the heritage facade will be preserved..

The development follows a 30 per cent rise in St Pat’s services use, often by people in chronic, complex situations needing more than housing, with a particular increase in youth victims.

Mrs Cascioli said this rise in the use of their service could be attributed to increased cost of living pressures, alongside a severe shortage of housing options, worse mental health outcomes, and domestic violence.

Shelter WA chief executive Kath Snell said there was a “perfect storm,” in WA, with a simultaneous homelessness crisis, a housing crisis and a cost-of-living crisis.

The 2021 census recorded roughly 10,000 homeless people in Western Australia, 2300 of whom are street present; homeless organisations do not have the accommodation necessary to house this many people.

Ms Snell attributed WA’s relative lack of rental rights to this shortfall and said: “We need to see some changes in rental laws.”

While WA has seen recent changes to rental rights, such as rent increases only once every 12 months, Ms Snell said the historical lack of protections and investment into homelessness has led to an “enormous social housing waitlist,” and organisations are still playing catchup.

Ms Snell describes St Pat’s model as a “Housing First” approach, where although housing is the priority, other support services are required alongside it.

Ms Snell said there is no “one size fits all” model for solving homelessness, but St Pat’s is doing an “excellent job” at providing support and attracting attention to the issue.

For Mrs Cascioli and Ms Snell, the goal is to end homelessness, meaning it becomes a rare, short-lived and non-repeating issue.

Ms Snell remains optimistic and said: “Homelessness has been defeated in other areas, so there’s no reason it shouldn’t be here.”