Pensioner living in car has 'lost faith' in system as he waits for house

Mark Unsworth is a pensioner stuck on WA's public housing waitlist. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)

Pensioner Mark Unsworth, 68, says he has "lost faith" in the social support system as he lives in a car in Perth, waiting for his name to move up on WA's public housing waitlist.

It comes as the WA government this week announced a major overhaul of the system to prioritise applicants with "urgent and complex needs".

With the changes to be implemented in early 2028, an advocate says the current housing waitlist is not being worked through quickly enough.

A 68-year-old pensioner living in his car while waiting for social housing says he has "lost faith in the whole system", as WA government reforms aimed at making the process fairer leave him wondering when help will come.

On Tuesday, Housing Minister John Carey announced the first overhaul of the state's housing waitlist in 70 years in a bid to prioritise applicants with "urgent and complex needs".

"The focus is those with the greatest need, that is why we are shaking up the system," he said.

Housing Minister John Carey wants to reduce the time people who need public housing are waiting. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)

The overhaul will replace the current "wait turn" model that houses people based on how long they have spent on the list, along with the availability of a home in their area.

But the changes are not expected to take effect until 2028, and it's unclear how people deemed to have the most urgent need will be prioritised under the new system.

Some advocates and those currently on the wait list have questioned whether enough is being done between now and then.

Pensioner Mark Unsworth has been living in his car for the past few months after a terrible experience renting privately.

The pensioner was on the general social housing waitlist for one year before being bumped up to the priority list, where he remains after another year.

He's waiting for a home in Busselton, but still has not heard how far he has progressed in the queue.

Mr Unsworth has been waiting for a year for secure housing. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)

"I'm the invisible man … I just feel like I'm invisible," he told the ABC.

Mr Unsworth has been sleeping inside his car in a beachside car park in Perth and showering at a local sporting club while he waits.

Mr Unsworth spends his nights sleeping in a car park. (ABC News: Courtney Withers)

"It's not the best, it's pretty cold … it is what it is," he said, as overnight winter temperatures in the city drop close to 3 degrees Celsius.

Mr Unsworth said he was moved onto the pr