FREMANTLE is a step closer to getting a village of tiny homes to help rough sleepers find shelter, with a local informal committee identifying two potential sites.

Mayor Ben Lawver, who pitched the idea as a central platform of his election campaign, has been working closely with the committee and says they started with 15 possible sites, a mix of council, state and privately-owned properties, and over three meetings had whittled it down.

While he wasn’t yet ready to reveal the potential locations, he said the aim was to help get between 8 and 10 people off the streets and into their own home.

“It has a possibility to be a demonstration project for other local governments and government departments,” Mr Lawver said.

“What it’s for and who it might serve informs the design and the cost, such as whether it’s for youth, victims of domestic violence or veterans.

“The community is currently working on the principles and the standards.”

Mr Lawver said the council also had also put a proposal to housing minister John Carey for a “respite space”.

“It would be where people could sleep overnight for a set time.

“It’s that first step in that process to getting people into a permanent home.”

Mr Lawver said he recently noticed a homeless local who suddenly disappeared for about 10 days. When they next caught up, he discovered the man had spent time in a respite centre and was amazed by the transformation, which included finding a new home in South Fremantle.

“He looked so healthy, and you know, living on the streets can be really hard for your health.”

Mr Lawver said the City would need help from the state government to establish a respite centre, saying it was beyond their means.

by STEVE GRANT