A FORMER hotel in Brisbane will be transformed into supported accommodation for those at risk of homelessness, after being purchased by the Queensland state government.
The 84-room former Park Hotel in Spring Hill has been leased by the government since April 2021 and has now been secured for the long-term.
The government will now move forward on refurbishing the rooms and communal spaces to better support at-risk Queenslanders with wrap-around services.
“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,” said Meaghan Scanlon, housing minister.
“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.”
St Vincent de Paul will continue to manage the property and provide support services to tenants.
“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,” said Kevin Mercer, CEO at Vinnies Queensland.
“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.”
Earlier in 2023, the Queensland government purchased a 23-room hotel, with a motor inn in Hamilton also leased for youth accommodation and an apartment complex in Gladstone transformed into public housing.
Retirement villages in Clayfield, Rothwell, Toowoomba and the Redlands have also been purchased and leased for social housing.
“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,” added Scanlon.
“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.”
