People relocated from park near housing minister’s office

Accommodation has been found for homeless people living in a park on the Gold Coast after a news story revealed the proximity of their camp to Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon’s electoral office.

A majority of the people pictured sleeping rough in a park near Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon’s Gold Coast electorate office have been moved into alternative accommodation.

It comes after The Sunday Mail uncovered the “caravan city” in the carpark near Arthur Earle Park, across from Ms Scanlon’s Nerang office.

Before The Sunday Mail contacted Ms Scanlon’s office, Dave Porter and Rachel Small who were sleeping rough for about two years said they felt “no one” could help them after multiple rejections for houses and Uniting Care saying there was nothing for them.

They have since been put into emergency accommodation and have hopes of being moved into something more permanent.

Rachel Small and Dave Porter were living out of a van in Nerang on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Porter said he didn’t think he would have gotten help without the media intervention.

“It just shows the power of the story. We were wondering where the help was but I think we got it because of the media coverage,” he said.

“It shouldn’t be that way. You should go to them and they should try and help you but it didn’t seem to work that way.”

After The Sunday Mail contacted the Minister’s office Ms Scanlon visited the park and crews offered support.

“The Department of Housing had turned up and basically said, are we interested in getting into a Housing Commission, and basically, just that day, everything just happened,” he said.

“They put us into emergency accommodation, which was absolutely wonderful.”

Shadow Minister for Housing Tim Mander said Queenslanders without a roof over their deserved better.

“It’s little wonder Queenslanders are becoming increasingly cynical about this Government when, appallingly, it takes the glare of the media spotlight before Labor finally acts,” he said.

Ms Scanlon said the Critical Response Team and UnitingCare visited Arthur Earle Park last week. “And I visited the park again on the weekend,” she said.

Meaghan Scanlon’s electorate office could be seen from Arthur Earle Park. Picture: Nigel Hallett

“Accommodation was offered to everyone the department was able to engage with, and the team will continue to do outreach and provide accommodation to anyone who needs it.”

Uniting Care Wellbeing Services general manager Luke Lindsay said they had significant increase in demand over the past 12 months.

“The issue of homelessness is broad and complex. We are committed to working with all agencies to find ways to provide people with access to safe housing for both immediate short-term needs and longer-term solutions,” he said.

“Part of our immediate crisis support includes mobile outreach to people staying in public places to support them with case management and accommodation options.

“This outreach is done in conjunction with our partners in the broader Gold Coast Homeless Network (GCHN) and by working closely with the Department of Housing’s Critical Response Team.”