As homelessness rips through the City of Perth, the state government has purchased the West Perth Murray Hotel for $5.1 million in an effort to house Perth's rough sleepers. 

John Carey, State Housing Minister and acting Transport Minister, told Gary Adshead on 6PR Mornings that this will be transitional accommodation for the homeless.

"It will be the first step to assist people to try and break that journey from rough sleeping, recognising that it's not easy and contrary to some popular opinion, it's not simply about providing a rough over someones head," John Carey said.

"This is not a hotel - it will be a supported landlord model so you've got a community housing and homelessness provider who are working with those clients."