Make Housing Safe Again: End Drug Dealing in Public Housing!
All across Australia concerns are being raised about the out of control #meth epidemic and the crime wave that results from black market drug dealing. There is a perception in the community that policy makers in government and the NGOs who deliver tax payer funded services are privileging the chaotic lifestyles of drug users over the duty of care to provide tenants with safe housing & the rights of the community live in safety.
The growing housing crisis also enables the idea of some that tenants in public or social housing are lucky to have a house and thus should put up with unsafe living conditions. Comments made to members of the HIV Consumer Alliance of WA suggest that there is an attitude that people on low incomes need to accept that they must live surrounded by the crime and violence caused by this out of control meth usage.
The inclusion of criminal background checks into the Housing selection process needs to happen as a matter of urgency to ensure that people with known violent tendencies and meth dealing histories are not placed in houses next to vulnerable populations including the elderly, disabled & recovering victims of domestic violence.
The criminal justice system and Indigenous Service need to provide housing to enable inmates to transition safely into the community with supports to prevent re-offending. There needs to be more housing provided "on country" for Indigenous people to enable meth addicts to rehabilitate and reconnect with their communities.
More needs to be done to enable people in social housing, especially those with disabilities, to access part time employment without the penalty of high rental increases. Drug Dealing should be treated as a business and the rents of drug dealers should be increased to commercial rates to take account of the large profits that are being made by drug dealing in public or social housing.
Dumping people in the community and turning a blind eye to the crime and violence that results is not a good public health solution. Everyone has the right to be Safe in their Housing free from harassment including low income people.The aim of this policy is to provide members of the community with the language structures with which to engage with the debate as we head towards the WA State Election which will be held on the 8th March 2025.
If you are concerned about this Meth Epidemic and the domestic violence and crime that this is directly causing then Now is the time to act. We suggest you contact your local Member of Parliament and tell them you want action!
If you are on X.com then the Minister for Housing for WA is @JohnCareyPerth and we know his office loves to hear from Members of the Community! Make sure you tag the Liberal Opposition and the Premier of WA, Roger Cook, so they are aware that members of the community want real action to Make Housing Safe Again.
Next Page: A Strategy to End Drug Dealing in Public Housing.
