Brisbane’s new social housing units, as government promised extra 8,000

The Palaszczuk government needs to build 8000 new social houses in the next four years if it is to deliver on a promise made in response to the state’s housing crisis.

The Palaszczuk government has just four years to build a promised 8000 new social houses after taking eight years to finish just half that amount.

However, Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch said she was confident the government could deliver on its promise.

Ms Enoch on Monday opened 42 new social housing units at Windsor.

An emergency housing summit held last year saw the government pledge $2 billion towards the creation of more social housing and a promise to create an extra 8,000 homes within the next four years.

That is in addition to the 5000 it had started building since coming to power in 2015.

Despite the ambitious goal, Ms Enoch said she had full confidence her department would meet the target after completing construction of more than 4000 social homes in eight years.

“I am confident because in the first year of the second action plan of our housing strategy, we had a target of 727 (building) commencements and the department absolutely smashed that target with over 830 commencements in that period,” she said.

Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch announces 42 new social housing units in Brisbane on Monday. Picture: Richard Walker

The new two-bedroom Windsor units built by community housing provider Blue CHP would mainly house elderly residents and those on a disability pension, with the government funding $20 million towards the development.

“We’ve been seeing over a long period of time, the changing demographic and more demand for one and two bedroom properties, particularly for those who may be older or living with a disability,” MS Enoch said.

“These are ideal in terms of size and … meeting the needs of those small families as well, sometimes single mothers with their one or two children, sometimes those who might have been fleeing domestic and family violence.”

Brisbane mother and disability pensioner, Simone Pauly, was homeless for a year before recently becoming a tenant in the new community housing unit block in Lutwyche.

Community housing resident Simone Pauly at Brisbane’s newest completed social housing project, a 42-unit development at Windsor. Picture: Richard Walker

Delivering an emotional speech to media on Monday, Ms Pauly said after becoming part of Queensland’s “hidden homeless” she was eternally grateful to receive a life changing fresh start.

“We’re the people that are living in cars, we’re the people that are sleeping on the floor of their brother’s home, we’re the people that are moving from friend’s house to friend’s house, just desperately trying to get a leg into the private rental market that is it’s inaccessible for many,” she said.

“To have been given a home as beautiful as the one you see here is an absolute game changer for myself and my son.

“It’s given me my dignity back … it’s given me back my sense of self. It’s given my son confidence again.”

Community Housing Resident Simone Pauly and Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch. Picture: Richard Walker

Ms Enoch was unable to disclose how many Queenslanders had accessed private rental assistance or the cost of living relief measures introduced at the housing summit.

“Over the Christmas period, there‘s been a lot of assistance that’s been provided to people and we’re just getting those numbers from those housing, homeless and homeless service organizations now to be able to provide that full picture,” she said.

The Social Housing Register would help various housing and homeless services decide who would qualify as a potential tenant for the government’s future social housing projects.