An Emergency Housing Security Stakeholders meeting was held in Brisbane this week, bringing together the state government and key representatives from the housing and homelessness sector, to discuss the housing challenges created by the recent flooding event.
Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said it was essential for all parties to come together to share insights, identify where assistance was needed and develop responses.
“We work with these key stakeholders all year round to coordinate our activities and share information but responding to this unprecedented event will require us to strengthen that united approach,” Ms Enoch said.
“This meeting demonstrates our intent to join forces to find safe and secure housing as quickly as possible for impacted people.
“The department has provided an overview of our response and gathered local intelligence from our stakeholders about what they’re seeing on the ground across the different communities impacted by this disaster.
I am pleased that the Emergency Housing Security Stakeholder meeting participants recognised the extraordinary circumstances many Queenslanders are facing, and we have committed to continuing to work together to address ongoing housing needs and promote Queensland’s continued resilience.
Ms Enoch said the emergency housing response was activated early and Queenslanders were already receiving support.
“Emergency housing assistance is available, and we are assisting more than 245 households with their emergency or temporary accommodation needs across Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Logan, the Gold Coast, Maroochydore, Maryborough and Gympie,” Ms Enoch said.
“Our local housing service centres remain open and anyone in need of emergency accommodation is encouraged to reach out either in person or on the phone to discuss their needs.
“Assistance is also available through referral from our officers on the ground at evacuation centres and Queensland Government Community Recovery Hubs as they open across the next few days.
“Housing staff have been in Gympie since Wednesday and are working with the local council evacuation centres to provide support in this location too.
“Temporary accommodation options are available and we have expanded access and eligibility for products such as rental grant and loan products in flood effected areas.
“I encourage anyone requiring housing assistance to call their local Housing Service Centre, 13 QGOV (74 68) or the Homelessness Hotline on 1800 474 753.”
“Information is also available at www.qld.gov.au/housing.”
Ms Enoch said QBuild teams were rapidly assessing and making repairs on social housing properties that were damaged across South-East Queensland.
“We are working with our funded housing and homelessness providers to identify emergency accommodation options.”
“We’re reaching out across our networks to identify available accommodation including the Wellcamp quarantine facility and hotel rooms that were previously used for COVID-19 quarantine.”
Fiona Caniglia, Executive Director, QShelter is one of the representatives from the housing and homelessness sector who attended the Emergency Housing Security Stakeholders meeting.
“The community housing and homelessness sector is working hard to ensure people impacted by floods are housed,” Ms Caniglia said.
“We know there are existing pressures on the housing market and extreme weather events only compound these pressures.
“We look forward to continuing to work across the sector to drive increased supply now and into the future.”
Ms Enoch said the department was also providing financial assistance through Community Recovery Grants in a number of local government areas.
“These grants are now available across many parts of South-East Queensland,” Ms Enoch said.
“Anyone who has been impacted in an activated areas and meets the eligibility requirements can apply for grant and access support by visiting www.qld.gov.au/SEQrecoverygrants.”
“People can also access support and assistance for grant applications through the Community Recovery Hotline (1800 173 349), which has already received more than 3,700 calls.”
