‘Future is very dim’: Acacia Ridge grandmother faces homelessness

A Brisbane grandmother is facing homelessness within the next fortnight as the government reveals how they’re trying to combat a perfect housing market storm leaving people on the street.

A 78-year-old grandmother could be made homeless if she doesn’t find a new place to rent in the next few weeks.

Yvonne Jones, who is the sole carer for her disabled son, 50, has been living in her Acacia Ridge rental for three years.

Ms Jones was recently handed a two-week eviction notice after the landlord told her they planned to demolish her house two days after she moves out.

“We have viewed at least 60 houses and applied for most of them, but have not been approved even though we have good rental and personal references,” she said.

Ms Jones said she was given two months’ notice as required by law and said her original lease expired on April 9.

At the time, she made arrangements with her real estate agent and landlord to pay an extra $30 a week to stay on until she found a home.

However, her landlord didn’t hold up his end of the bargain and they now need to be out by May 12.

Yvonne Jones pictured with her 15-year-old granddaughter. Source: Supplied

“It’s very scary and stressful to think we will be out on the streets if we can’t (find) a place,” Ms Jones said.

She has applied for houses in Acacia Ridge, Moorooka, Salisbury, Annerley, Mt Gravatt and Eight Miles Plains.

“I never imagined being homeless. I always thought I’d have a place to live.”

Ms Jones said her son’s weekly medical and physiotherapy appointments would also have to stop if she could not find accommodation.

“The future is very dim at this moment,” she said.

Ms Jones isn’t the only Acacia Ridge local who’s been kicked out of their long-term rental to make way for a new development.

Ashley Devon, 54, has been out of his four-bedroom rental for a few months now.

“If you have a look now, it’s gone,” he said.

Mr Devon said he was given two months’ notice but said if it wasn’t for his sister, who he now lives with, he would have found it hard to find a new place.

“It’s so hard to find somewhere to live,” he said.

“I know people that are couch-surfing still trying to find places because they had to get out by a certain day.

“Young couples having to move back in with (their) parents.”

Mr Devon said renters should be given at least 90 days’ notice.

His biggest fear was that his sister’s place might get snapped up by developers, too.

“She has this lovely old place and the owners are quite happy for us (to stay on as) long-term renters,” he said.

“But, you (don’t) know what’s going to happen.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy said record interstate migration, rising house prices, very low vacancy rates, Covid-19 and severe weather had all contributed to the state’s current rental crisis.

“Queensland has seen unprecedented pressure on housing affordability and supply across the state over the past few years.

“The Queensland Government is investigating all options for increasing access to longer-term social and affordable housing supply, with a focus on ensuring people are suitably accommodated.

“We have also committed to the largest concentrated investment in housing in Queensland’s history.

“We are investing $2.9 billion under the Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025, including the establishment of a new $1 billion Housing Investment Fund to boost housing supply and increase housing and homelessness supports across Queensland.

“It is disappointing that the Federal Government is withdrawing its support for the National Rental Assistance Scheme, supporting 10,000 vulnerable Queenslanders, just at a time when they need this support the most.

“More than 205,000 forms of housing assistance have been provided to Queensland households or individuals, including emergency housing, social housing, private market assistance and homelessness services during 2020-2021.”