Queensland housing crisis needs coordination and leadership

Abstract

Queensland’s housing crisis has drawn unprecedented levels of concern from across the community. The situation is urgent and needs to be treated similarly to a significant natural disaster, with joined up responses involving Government, the not-for-profit sector and private sector.

Ahead of the Queensland State Budget, it is important to acknowledge the $2.9billion program geared to investment in social housing announced last year.

Q Shelter Executive Director Fiona Caniglia says, “Last year’s State Budget introduced some important measures for social and affordable housing, including the establishment of the Housing Investment Fund, and strong commitments to outcomes in the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan.

“Of course more funding is needed for social and affordable housing products.  However important systemic changes are also needed to ensure enough housing supply to meet all projected population demands.

‘The register of need for social housing has grown and supply of social housing does not meet demand. Many people who need housing now are not eligible for social housing and we need to guarantee a healthy housing system so those people are not forced into a deepening personal crisis where social housing is the only option.

“There is a great opportunity for the State to convene leaders to address this crisis as no one measure is enough. We need to call people to the table to solve some immediate challenges while we also work together for medium and longer-term change.”

More housing supply can only be achieved through a range of necessary solutions which is what Q Shelter’s annual submission calls for.

Read the full submission here.

Key measures include:

• Urgent planning system reforms such as inclusionary zoning
• A uniform and enabling approach to the use of secondary dwellings
• Regional housing targets to meet population demand
• A greater role for community housing providers who can build at a lower cost and who are primed to play a bigger role by attracting debt finance through institutions such as NHFIC which effectively leverages State funding to deliver more social and affordable housing
• The introduction of necessary rental reforms to improve security of tenure for the growing number of people who will rent for life
• Specific funding to support the community housing sector to provide affordable housing offered at a discount to market rent
• Early and urgent progress on guaranteeing a social and affordable housing legacy from the Olympics and Para-Olympics

Q Shelter encourages the Queensland Government to convene community leaders to respond to this crisis. “Everyone is concerned and would be willing to come together to work on solutions,” says Ms Caniglia.

She said: “Q Shelter has taken more calls than ever from people desperately seeking a home. We know the service system is under more pressure than ever. Sector leaders describe persistent efforts to find emergency options including temporary hotels and motels for struggling families without success.

“We need to be focussed on removing every obstacle to success in delivering more housing supply across every point on the housing spectrum.”

Q Shelter is the peak body for the housing and homelessness sector in Queensland.

For more on Q Shelter head to: www.qshelter.asn.au

ENDS

Media inquiries to Q Shelter Media Manager, Michelle Saftich. Phone 0407 074 645