Our Queensland Housing Summit response

We’re committed to addressing the housing needs of Queenslanders. We are taking action to respond to challenges across the housing sector.

Background

On 20 October 2022, the Premier of Queensland hosted the Queensland Housing Summit, to address the challenges of meeting Queenslanders’ housing needs. The Summit provided over 150 industry and other stakeholders an opportunity to discuss innovative strategies to support improved housing outcomes.

The Premier and senior Queensland Government representatives heard from stakeholders about a range of ideas to address housing challenges, including:

  • using regulatory reforms to boost housing supply
  • better supporting and sustaining tenancies in the rental sector
  • growing our communities through good design and diverse housing.

Our approach

We’re building on the work already underway through the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021 – 2025 (PDF, 3466.73 KB) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Action Plan 2019 – 2023 (PDF, 3866.57 KB).

The challenges faced cannot be solved by one entity alone. This is why we’re bringing local, state and federal levels of government together alongside industry and sector expertise to deliver real housing solutions for Queenslanders.

As part of the Summit, the Queensland Government boosted its flagship Housing Investment Fund to $2 billion. Investment returns of $130 million a year will now be available from the Fund to support an increased target of 5,600 new social and affordable housing commencements across Queensland by 30 June 2027. This brings the Queensland Government’s total investment in social and affordable housing to a record $3.9 billion.

Delivering for Queenslanders

Private rental assistance

We are expanding access to our private rental market assistance products to enable more Queenslanders to obtain private rental homes or maintain the tenancy they have. We’re starting by increasing income limits, to help more people access:

Queenslanders can check their eligibility for private rental market assistance products by contacting their nearest Housing Service Centre.

Supporting tenancies

We are supporting Queenslanders to sustain their private rental tenancies and stay in their homes by expanding tenancy sustainment services.

Approximately 1,500 households are expected to be assisted over 12 months from 1 July 2023 by the employment of additional homelessness support workers.

Queenslanders seeking support to help maintain their current tenancy can contact their nearest Housing Service Centre.

Immediate Housing Response for Families

We are boosting the Immediate Housing Response for Families funding package by an additional $5 million, taking the total to $26 million.

The funding will support more critical services such as:

  • temporary emergency accommodation
  • specialist homelessness workers.

Funding will be distributed across the state’s network of Specialist Homelessness Services to help Queenslanders living in insecure and unsafe situations transition to longer-term housing with tailored support.

The $5 million investment will support an estimated 500 additional households and will include families, individuals and households with no children.

Queenslanders can check their eligibility for private rental market assistance products by contacting their nearest Housing Service Centre.

After-hours outreach

After-hours outreach will be available across 5 high-demand locations to help Queenslanders who are sleeping rough or in their cars. These locations include:

  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Townsville
  • Cairns.

This builds on the emergency outreach services we introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and extends the hours of support across weekends, evenings and in some areas, overnight.

There will be additional funding to address increasing numbers of rough sleepers. Services will support all vulnerable people including:

  • adults
  • families
  • young people.

Outreach services identify and assist people sleeping rough into accommodation and provide after-hours support to people in secure short-term, temporary accommodation, including hotels, to stabilise their situation with support in place while longer term housing outcomes are pursued.

Anyone at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, can contact the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.

Temporary emergency accommodation

We are accelerating the delivery of more temporary emergency accommodation with onsite support by accessing underused accommodation.

We are continuing to look for opportunities to use commercial or alternative accommodation that is available to lease or purchase. This may include accommodation such as:

  • hotels
  • motels
  • retirement and aged care facilities.

The funding will assist in securing this type of accommodation and providing a range of support services.

Anyone at risk of, or experiencing homelessness, can contact the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753.

Emergency relief

We are providing an additional $2 million in emergency relief funding through our network of 86 emergency relief providers across Queensland to deliver immediate, short-term support and assistance to adults experiencing personal, family, relationship or financial issues and hardship.

Financial assistance such as vouchers, food parcels and support with paying bills will be provided for clients experiencing immediate financial crisis.

Emergency relief providers may also refer clients to appropriate support services to build skills and avoid future financial crisis.

Queenslanders needing support can contact 13 QGOV (13 74 68).

Food recovery and redistribution

We’re investing an additional $1.3 million in food recovery and redistribution to support Queenslanders who need help to access fresh, nutritious food—doubling our current level of investment. This includes: