THE Queensland government has committed to purchasing more social homes from the private market, using funds that were previously earmarked to repurpose student accommodation.
The government is set to purchase 64 homes—both houses and units—across the state in the open market.
The purchases will be funded using $25 million that was found—after the government consulted QShelter— to be more effective at getting vulnerable people into homes faster than the previous plans involving repurposing student accommodation.
“After consulting with Queensland’s leading housing advocacy group, QShelter, we’ve made the decision to purchase homes directly on the private market, to get more people into accommodation quicker,” said Steven Miles, deputy premier.
“We haven’t taken this decision lightly. Many Queenslanders, who have never experienced housing stress before, are struggling and we are committed to doing as much as we can.”
Cost estimates found it would take substantial works to bring the unused accommodation at Griffith Mt Gravatt campus up to current fire safety standards, due to its proximity to bush land.
“Unforeseen challenges at the Griffith site means that this is simply a better, faster outcome for vulnerable Queenslanders across the state,” added Miles.
So far, contracts to acquire more social homes have been entered into in Acacia Ridge, Annerley, Atherton, Bucasia, Cloncurry, Cooran, Eagleby, Emerald, Gladstone Central, Gleneagle, Gordonvale, Griffin, Kawungan, Mount Low, Ormeau, Pimpama, Rural View, Smithfield, Tully and Urangan.
“The allocation of funding to purchase housing directly makes more sense given the challenges presented by the Mt Gravatt site,” said Fiona Caniglia, executive director at QShelter.
“We support any action which achieves homes for Queenslanders faster. In the longer term, this funding will go further and achieve sustainable housing outcomes for as long as people need them. Q Shelter will be working with Government to ensure that not-for-profit community housing providers assist in any way possible to implement this plan.”
In 2023, the Queensland government has announced numerous social housing projects as part of the it’s $3.9 billion investment into social and affordable housing, the largest concentrated investment in the state’s history, including two new projects in Cairns, a partnership with community housing provider National Affordable Housing for up to 335 homes and the purchase of two retirement villages in Windsor and Toowoomba for further social housing.
As well as passing new legislation to support the expansion of The Big Issue’s not-for-profit Homes for Homes enterprise across the state.
