Strategy responds to Queensland homelessness

Published Tuesday, 10 October, 2017 at 02:10 PM

Minister for Housing and Public Works and Minister for Sport
The Honourable Mick de Brenni

A Palaszczuk Government program designed to help tenants with complex needs avoid homelessness has so far assisted 133 social housing tenants to maintain safe, secure accommodation.

Speaking on World Homelessness Day, Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said often people need more than just a safe place to sleep – they also need support to maintain housing and find their place in the community again.

"Many of us take health and family for granted, but on a day like today, we need to recognise that there are people out there who are disconnected from family and friends, or who have health issues which make it hard to sustain secure and stable housing," Mr de Brenni said.

"In 2016-17, my department found social housing homes for 6,079 families and individuals facing or experiencing homelessness in Queensland.

“Some of those have required extra support to find and maintain accommodation, particularly people with complex mental health issues, which is why in January 2016 we began the Mental Health Demonstration project.”

Minister de Brenni said that 133 North Brisbane social housing tenants had participated in the project so far.

"This initiative provides tailored, individual plans to manage complex issues like hoarding, social isolation, poor health, failure to maintain a property and strained neighbourhood relationships, which can limit a person’s ability to maintain a stable tenancy,” Mr de Brenni said.

"Delivered by the Department of Housing and Queensland Health in partnership with service provider Footprints, it focusses on enabling social housing tenants with complex needs to access support services to help them sustain their tenancies.  

"As a result of this demonstration project, we’ve seen tenants who have resumed regular contact with family, developed sound budget and home skills, improved health outcomes and even rejoining the workforce.”

Mr de Brenni said that the Palaszczuk Government launched it $1.8 billion Queensland Housing Strategy earlier this year to provide a broad range of responses to homelessness and housing issues.

"The strategy will provide a $1.8 billion investment, over 10 years, into more social and affordable housing, as well as relieve housing affordability pressures, drive service delivery reform and respond to the needs of Queensland’s most vulnerable. 

"It includes a number of measures which will address homelessness directly, including the expansion of the Logan Youth Foyer program and the building of two new Youth Foyers, and the introduction of the Dignity First Fund that has already backed 54 on-the-ground projects to help those facing or experiencing homelessness.

"It will also ensure the department has a person-centred approach and provide tailored, high quality solutions to those experiencing homelessness and housing need," he said.

Through the strategy we have also committed to work collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on a Housing Action Plan to improve housing outcomes in urban, regional and remote communities around the state.

Further information about the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 is available http://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/housingstrategy/About/Pages/default.aspx

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Media contact: Cat Milton 0410 644 113