Former hotel purchased to help people at risk of homelessness

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• A former 84-room hotel in Brisbane has been bought for secure, supported accommodation
• It follows the purchase and lease of former hotels, motels and retirement villages across the state

The former Park Hotel in Spring Hill has been purchased to help people at risk of homelessness.

The property has been leased by the government since April 2021, with the purchase now securing the hotel in the long-term.

The purchase means the department will be able to refurbish rooms and communal spaces to better support at-risk Queenslanders.

St Vincent de Paul will continue to manage the property and provide support services to tenants.

It’s the latest addition to the Palaszczuk Government’s recent purchase and lease of former hotels, motels and retirement villages across the state.

Earlier this year, a 23-room hotel was acquired while a motor inn in Hamilton was leased for youth accommodation and an apartment complex in Gladstone was transformed into public housing.

Retirement villages in Clayfield, Rothwell, Toowoomba and the Redlands have also been purchased and leased for social housing.

Quotes attributable to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon:

“While we get on with our big housing build, we’re also buying and leasing hotels, motels and retirement villages to meet that immediate need for accommodation.

“These rooms not only provide a roof over the heads of vulnerable Queenslanders but ensures they can easily access essential wrap-around services as well as amenities including public transport, schools, medical care, shops and parks.

“Shovels are in the ground right now building homes through our big housing build – the largest concentrated investment in social housing in Queensland’s history.

“While we have a strong focus on building new properties, we are also supplementing construction with strategic purchases, like this hotel in Spring Hill.

“This helps ensure our housing portfolio continues to grow and evolve and respond to local need."

Quotes attributable to Education Minister and Member for McConnel Grace Grace:

“This refurbishment means help vulnerable Queenslanders to better access to the support services they need.

“As a government we’re committed to unlocking more housing supply and assisting Queenslanders into accommodation, and there’s no better example than this.”

Quotes attributable to Vinnies Queensland CEO Kevin Mercer:

“This is a visionary example of how the State Government and homelessness support organisations like St Vincent de Paul can work together to provide hope for Queenslanders without a place to call home,” Mr Mercer said.

“More than just a warm bed to sleep in, here our teams work with residents to build the skills, confidence and opportunities to secure safe long-term accommodation.

“This client-first, wrap-around support model is already proving a highly effective way to use short-term crisis accommodation leading to helping Queenslanders out of homelessness in the long-term.

“Vinnies Queensland looks forward to continuing our fruitful relationship with the Department of Housing and provide even more Queenslanders in need with a renewed sense of hope for the future.”

Further information:

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: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078 and Robyn Wuth – 0461 555 208