Vinnies WA welcomes news of Rent Relief extension

The announcement comes off the back of news that Perth is the least affordable Australian city for rentals.

Vinnies WA Executive Manger of Community Engagement Services Andrew York and Anglicare WA CEO Mark Glasson were interviewed by Seven News Perth at Ozanam House in Canning Vale on Thursday about the funding extension. 

Since its inception in November 2023 to December 2025, both Anglicare WA and Vinnies WA through the WA Rent Relief program have received:

• 8873 referrals and EOIs
• Made more than $16 million in total rent relief payments
• 3699 households received payment
• More than half of those (57 per cent) to receive payments were female
• Single parent families with children made up the biggest portion of those to receive rent relief payments, followed by single person with no children, then family with children
• Close to three quarters (74.6 per cent) of payments were in the Perth metro area.

At Vinnies WA, last month saw the highest volume of calls at Vinnies WA's Emergency Relief Service Centre, with call-takers answering more than 5100 calls for emergency assistance.

This is up by 23 per cent from the same time last year, with 3986 calls answered in November 2024.

Over the 2024/25 financial year, demand for Vinnies' Emergency Relief services was greater than ever before - with more West Australians struggling to make ends meet when it comes to paying for food, fuel, bills and rent.

This struggle is reflected in the 2024/25 statistics that feature in Vinnies recently released 2025 Impact Report. 

Beyond June 2026, Vinnies WA will continue to work alongside sector partners like Anglicare WA to advocate for those who are doing it tough with calls for a longer-term solution to WA's unaffordable rental crisis.