A FORMER police accommodation in Cairns is being transformed into support facilities for vulnerable people in Far North Queensland.
The 18 units in Manoora are set to be refurbished by the Queensland state government, with the department of housing to partner with St Vincent de Paul to manage and provide support upon completion.
“This former police accommodation will very soon be used to help Queenslanders in need. While we get on with our big housing build, we’re also refurbishing 18 rooms in Cairns with new whitegoods and kitchenettes,” said Meaghan Scanlon, housing minister.
“And together with Vinnies, we’ll make sure people who will stay here additionally get much-needed wraparound support.”
The refurbishment will include bathroom upgrades, repainting, replacing floor coverings and hot water systems, in addition to roofing repairs and upgrading fire services.
“The Manoora facility will be more than a safe place to sleep off the streets – our team will be on-site to provide wrap-around support to residents and work with them to help secure long-term housing,” said Kevin Mercer, CEO at Vinnies Queensland.
“We know from experience that our State Government working together with homelessness support organisations like St Vincent de Paul is an effective way to help people escape homelessness, not just in the short-term, but for good.
“We hope this Manoora facility will become a place of hope and comfort for Far North Queenslanders struggling to find a place to call home.”
While 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.
