Housing crisis Qld: Steven Miles promises accommodation for all

Every Queenslander on the brink of homelessness will be found crisis accommodation in hotels or aged care facilities, Premier Steven Miles insists.

• Editor’s view: Long-term solution

Every Queenslander on the brink of homelessness will be found crisis accommodation in hotels or aged care facilities, Premier Steven Miles insists, as new data reveals hundreds of rooms already acquired by the government are not yet in use.

Fresh from The Courier-Mail and Queensland Council of Social Service cost-of-living forum, Mr Miles reiterated a pledge for the state government to offer a roof to every Queenslander at risk of ending up on the streets.

“We will offer crisis accommodation, which in most cases involves using hotels or similar crisis accommodation … we will offer that accommodation to every homeless person in the state, everyone sleeping rough,” he said on Wednesday.

The ambitious pledge was first made to Rodney Tegen, who used Tuesday’s cost-of-living forum to ask the premier what could be done to help him living ending up living in his car.

“What I said to Rodney and what I’d say to anyone who is worried about losing their home, worried about continuing to afford a home, is please don’t wait until you’re homeless,” Mr Miles said.

“It is much easier for them (service providers) to keep a roof over you head than to have to find a new roof for you.

Premier Steven Miles at this week’s forum. Picture: David Clark

“We don’t just want to get people into accommodation, we want them to have safe, secure accommodation … to be able to afford their rent while also saving so that eventually they might be able to get a deposit and buy their own home.”

The state government has purchased or leased 500 rooms for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, however just 299 are available and in use.

A Department of Housing spokeswoman said while hundreds of people were being assisted, some rooms needed work before they could be used.

“When we have purchased the properties, some alterations may be required to make them fit for their new purpose,” she said.

“We also need to appoint tenancy and property managers for each site.”

The state government was unable to immediately say how many of the 299 were occupied, but said it was expected all rooms would be in use unless they were temporarily between residents.

In addition to the hotels purchased or leased by the government, funding is provided for Specialist Homelessness Services to provide temporary emergency accommodation such as in motels or hotels, the spokeswoman said.

In 2022-23, 1.54 million nights of accommodation were provided by homelessness services.

That figure is on track to be beaten this financial year, with 808,134 nights funded in the first two quarters of 2023-24.