$23.5 million in new funding for homelessness supports

The Palaszczuk Government has committed $23.5 million in new funding for more accommodation and more services for people experiencing homelessness.

Communities and Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch said the government had allocated the funding to deliver on priorities identified during the recent Housing Summit.

“We’ve allocated $10 million over two years to deliver more temporary emergency accommodation with on-site support faster by using underutilised accommodation,” she said.

“We’re working to have the first site providing accommodation for around 15 households in December, with more to be sourced.

“The funding, aimed to secure more than 100 places of shelter, will provide more accommodation, fit out rooms if required and provide onsite support services.”

Ms Enoch said a further $5 million boost to our immediate Housing Response Package would be used to enable people at risk of homelessness to remain housed.

“This takes the total funds of the package to $26 million – our initial $16 million commitment, a $5 million boost following the roundtable and this additional new $5 million,” she said.

“The funding will support more critical services such as temporary emergency accommodation and specialist homelessness workers for Queenslanders who are living in insecure and unsafe situations.

This can include people who are sleeping rough or living in tents or in their cars and will assist them to transition to longer term housing with individualised support.”

Ms Enoch said an additional $8.5 million over two years would be used to provide after-hours outreach in five priority locations.

“This will allow us to expand our after-hours outreach services across five high demand locations including Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townville and Cairns,” she said.

“This will be complemented with additional brokerage funding to address the increasing number of rough sleepers.

“Outreach services actively go to places where people experiencing homelessness are sleeping or gathering to ensure they are aware of the supports available.

“These services will support all vulnerable cohorts including adults, families and young people to access temporary emergency accommodation and supports.

“This will build on the emergency outreach services introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and will help people to access emergency accommodation faster.”

Anyone who needs housing assistance can contact their local Housing Service Centre during business hours or call the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.

 ENDS

 Media contact: Bill Walker 0437 859 987