A single mother of two, Amelia Johnson, expressed her initial relief after securing a home in Broome, Western Australia, but that relief quickly turned to dismay upon visiting the property. Assigned to her by the Department of Housing and Works in October, the house was located on Forrest Street, approximately 2,000 kilometers north of Perth. "It was just shocking," Johnson said. "The further I walked, the more disgusted I became."

Photos shared with the media revealed the property littered with discarded needles and trash, while the interior surfaces were covered in dirt. Johnson also raised concerns about the security of the home, noting large gaps between the screen doors and windows. "That area they put me in is extremely dangerous [and] the security screens aren't even secure," she stated.

Due to safety concerns for her 11 and 12-year-old children, Johnson decided to leave the house and return to Kununurra, about 1,000 kilometers away, where she is currently "couch surfing" between family members. "I'm in a homeless situation … that unit isn't even safe for me and the kids to move into," she said.

Johnson reported her concerns to the Broome office of the Department of Housing, but claimed her complaints were dismissed and other inquiries went unanswered. "Shouldn't the Department of Housing be responsible for making sure my children and I have safe and secure housing, since what was allocated to us is so disgusting?" she asked. "Housing hasn't even bothered to call me … that's how much value they put on my quality of life and my children's life."

In response, a spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Works stated that the property was not in that condition when it was offered to Johnson. "The Department of Housing and Works strives to ensure tenants are provided with housing that is clean, safe and suitable to their needs," the spokesperson said. They explained that the property had been vandalized after an inspection and before Johnson moved in, but did not specify when it was last cleaned.

The spokesperson also mentioned that Johnson had been offered another three-bedroom family home in Broome and that the department was in regular contact with her. They added that maintenance work would soon begin to restore the Forrest Street home.

Louise Giolitto, chief executive of the WA Council of Social Services, criticized the situation, stating it is "never acceptable to present a house if it's unlivable." She pointed out that while Government Regional Officer Housing (GROH) has minimum standards for public servants, those standards do not apply to public housing. "Housing is a human right and minimum standards are important," Giolitto said.

She noted that the Department of Housing and Works receives over 200,000 work orders for repairs and maintenance each year. In regions like the Kimberley and Pilbara, the challenge often lies in securing a workforce to complete those repairs. "They're making value judgments about allowing tenants to go in, because there's such high demand, as we know there's over 20,000 people on the wait list," Giolitto explained.

Broome, with a population of about 19,000, has seen a significant increase in rental prices over the past five years, with current median weekly rents reaching $1,200, making private renting unattainable for many residents.