The Department of Housing and Works, through Homeswest, provides rental accommodation for more than 39,000 families on low to moderate incomes.

Funds for rental accommodation are provided jointly by the Australian and Western Australian Governments through the Commonwealth/State Housing Agreement.

A key aim is to ensure that all Western Australians have access to affordable and secure housing.  Subsidies ensure that the tenants do not pay more than 25 per cent of their income in rent.  Special programs are available to assist people with special needs.  This includes priority assistance for people with extreme need of housing and targeted housing programs for people with disabilities, Aboriginal people, young people and other low income groups.

Homeswest also helps people to access private rental housing by providing interest-free loans for bond assistance.  This benefits customers by providing easy access to the private rental market while people wait on the list for their turn in public housing.  Long term tenants also receive valuable assistance to realise their home ownership dream when they purchase their rental home under the Goodstart home ownership scheme.

Visit the Department of Housing and Works website for further information on their services and programs.

Program Name:	Homeswest Rental Housing
Program Funding:	Government of Western Australia and The Australian Government
Program Administration:	Department of Housing and Works, Government of Western Australia