Battling homelessness has become a daily struggle in Bowen

Support workers are fielding multiple calls a day and doing everything they can to help, but there is not enough housing stock to help people put roofs over their heads.

Bowen Neighbourhood Centre co-ordinator Stephanie Cora (top right) says staff at the centre are fielding multiple inquiries about housing a day. Photos: Contributed

Every day, Bowen support workers are fielding multiple inquiries from people staring down the barrel of homelessness.

Without enough housing stock to move them into, putting a roof over their head has become a major challenge and one that has prompted a call for a refuge to be set up in the Whitsunday town.

Bowen Neighbourhood Centre co-ordinator Stephanie Cora said homelessness was an issue staff were dealing with daily, fielding about three inquiries about housing a day.

According to Mrs Cora, there has been a "huge increase" in people facing homelessness over the past six months.

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Mrs Cora said the neighbourhood centre was an information referral service, not a homeless shelter, but there was not enough housing stock to provide for people needing a roof over their heads.

"Since COVID, people are just not moving," she said.

"We do not have that transition of people coming and going."

Mrs Cora said families and singles were the key demographic needing help daily, and locals were not the ones generally requiring assistance.

She believed people were coming into town after hearing about work opportunities around Bowen, but then hit a significant hurdle when trying to find accommodation.

"They think we have got a refuge here or that we own (housing) stock," Mrs Cora said.

"There are no refuges or homelessness shelters so we are accessing other shelters in Queensland."

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Homelessness is an issue support workers are dealing with daily in Bowen. Photo: File

Mrs Cora said singles could be given tents, but with the recent rain it had been difficult for them to be used.

"We need a refuge, that would be great," Mrs Cora said.

"It is just somewhere that is available and they are getting that support.

"It would give them that stability to just get settled."

A Department of Housing and Public Works spokesman said the Queensland Government was pursuing initiatives to boost the number of affordable and social housing options across the state.

"Through the Housing Construction Jobs Program, the Queensland Government is building more than 5500 social and affordable homes across the state between 2017 and 2027," he said.

"This includes 60 new homes in the central Queensland region by next year.

"The local investment of $35.5 million will not only provide homes for Queenslanders in need, it will support 20 full-time jobs per year on construction sites."

The Department of Housing says it is pursuing initiatives to boost housing options across the state. Photo: File

The spokesman said under the Unite and Recover for Queensland Jobs strategy, the Works For Tradies initiative was launched in June.

Through this, 215 new homes will begin construction by year's end and 20 of those will be in the Mackay/Whitsunday region.

"The Queensland Government takes a person-centred approach to housing need and provides a suite of products to assist Queenslanders access sustainable housing," the spokesman said.

He said social housing was one solution and the government could also help with bond loans, rental grants and head-leasing services to support Queenslanders facing housing stress.

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"In the 2020-21 financial year to December 31, 2020, the Mackay Housing Service Centre provided 237 bond loans and 92 rental grants to help people secure a rental home in the region," the spokesman said.

Mrs Cora said support services around Bowen were banding together to tackle the homelessness issue and doing everything they could to help.

"The one thing we have got is good support agencies that go above and beyond," she said.

"And luckily the Neighbourhood Centre has a dream team."

For more information about housing support click here.

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