Townsville housing crisis on a scale not seen in decades

Townsville crisis accommodation is ‘stretched and overwhelmed’ as the city goes through it’s worst housing crisis in decades. Hear from those struggling to rent.

Townsville is facing the worst housing crisis it has experienced for several decades, according to a representative working in crisis accommodation.

Family Emergency Accommodation Townsville (FEAT)’s general manager Mandy Thompson said all of the local homelessness services are being overwhelmed by a demand for stable family homes.

“There is no doubt that we are facing a housing crisis on a scale that hasn’t been seen for many decades,” Ms Thompson said.

“We have received well over 2200 requests for housing needs and emergency food assistance this calendar year already.”

Ms Thompson believes the housing crisis is being caused by a massive under-supply of affordable housing with limited alternative options.

Family Emergency Accommodation Townsville general manager Mandy Thompson said the service has received more than 2200 requests for housing needs this year so far. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“It is a tragedy that so many individuals and families are sleeping in unsafe and unacceptable circumstances,” she said.

Ms Thompson’s views align with a mother of four children who tearfully said she had tried all options available to find housing in Townsville after their former lease expired.

The story released a strong reaction of commentary on social media, with most people acknowledging the difficulty of finding a place while on a disability pension.

Deputy Premier Cameron Dick and Resources Minister Scott Stewart at a new public housing project in Pimlico while advocating the Queensland Government’s Homes for Queenslanders Picture: Evan Morgan

Many blamed migration levels, real estate agents, landlords, and government policies discouraging the ‘mum and dad’ investor.

The idea of fixing an empty aged care facility at Rowse Bay was also suggested.

Others addressed the challenges of finding a place while on government support, including Charters Towers woman Jodi Talbot, who suffers from a brain injury and left Townsville five years ago because she could not find a rental in the area.

She said real estate agents were prioritising double income applicants working full-time, which then pushed out larger families and people unable to work, including disability pensioners such as herself even if they did have a reliable rental history.

She said there was “absolutely no chance” that she could afford to live in Townsville, even though she had to travel to the city for health appointments at least once a week.

“The only places that are affordable are either too far out, or they’ve in very unsafe areas and they don’t have security,” Ms Talbot said.

“And even then I probably wouldn’t get the place, because they’d rather it go to someone else.”

In February the State Government announced a $3b housing plan to address the housing crisis, when deputy premier Cameron Dick visited Townsville.

Mr Dick acknowledged the booming number of migrants and residents from interstate that had been drawn to Queensland.

The State Government’s plan was focused on increasing home ownership, tackling homelessness, and delivering 53,500 new social homes by 2046.

“The number of homes we will build will vary from year to year, it’s a very tight constrained market at the moment,” Mr Dick said.

“But we’re seeing some loosening up of that market now the Federal Government’s home builder program, which was initiated during the Covid pandemic to support construction … now that’s coming to an end.”

Originally published as Townsville housing crisis on a scale not seen in decades