475 Mackay families on social housing waitlist

Figures show alarming impact of pandemic on Mackay

Hundreds of Mackay families are on a social housing waitlist. Picture: Lee Constable

THERE are 475 Mackay families waiting for a house on the State Government's social housing register, with almost 60 per cent of them in a "high" or "very high" need.

The alarming numbers were revealed in the Queensland Council of Social Service's analysis of employment and housing data.

QCOSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh said a number of Mackay households were struggling to survive the pandemic and resulting financial downturn.

Ms McVeigh is travelling to Mackay today to meet with social services providers in the region and discuss plans to improve the wellbeing and resilience of low income earners.

"Queensland is facing new challenges associated with the health and economic impacts of COVID-19," she said.

"The State Government must support the wellbeing and resilience of all Queenslanders, support local economies by creating jobs and ensure the social services sector can provide support to those who need it."

The analysis also showed 6235 people in the Mackay local government area were currently accessing JobSeeker, which accounts for more than 7 per cent of the area's voting population.

QCOSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh. Picture: Richard Gosling

A total of 2998 organisations in Mackay had applied for JobKeeper support up to June.

With the Federal Government winding back JobSeeker, Ms McVeigh has called on the Queensland Government to create a Community Sector Resilience Fund.

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She said this would ensure there was an adequate safety net for the growing number of people who need support.

QCOSS, an industry organisation for the social services sector, has released a list of priorities in the lead up to the Queensland election.

These priorities include the need for community organisations to provide access to a no-interest loan scheme for low-income households, fairer rent reforms and job creation initiatives like building social housing.

"We have been talking to local services in Mackay about the pressures the sector has been under during COVID and how to improve the lives of people doing it tough," Ms McVeigh said.

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The State Government has announced $9.4 million for social housing in Mackay-Whitsunday as part of its regional recovery action plan.

The funding will be used to start construction of 20 additional homes in the region this financial year.

The initiative is part of the Works for Tradies stimulus, which provides housing support for vulnerable Queenslanders as well as construction jobs.

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