Qld housing crisis: Criteria change for temporary accommodation hit

Single mothers and pensioners could be left sleeping rough under a stricter Queensland emergency housing policy, the Opposition says.

Opposition housing spokeswoman Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Josh Woning

Single mothers and pensioners could be left sleeping rough under a stricter housing policy designed to stop Queenslanders from double dipping on assistance, the Opposition says.

The state government in March quietly tightened the eligibility criteria for temporary accommodation in its immediate housing response guidelines.

It says the move was to prevent people who had already obtained housing support from spending nights in hotel accommodation.

Under the policy changes, a person will be excluded from temporary accommodation if they fail to sign up to the Social Housing Register within seven days, have damaged another housing property and had that accommodation terminated, or left another housing option in favour of motel/hotel style accommodation.

A person also will not be ­eligible if they have also ­declined an alternative offer to safely stay with family and friends, in a private rental ­option or social housing.

The guidelines state that short-term accommodation ­offers would be subject to availability and cost-effectiveness, including their ability to pay a contribution towards their ­accommodation after five days if receiving Centrelink payments – equivalent to up to 25 per cent of their gross ­accessible income.

Housing Minister Sam O’Connor

Opposition housing spokeswoman Meaghan Scanlon said the changes would make it harder for pensioners and women fleeing violent relationships to get emergency accommodation.

“There are plenty of people out there who might not meet the income eligibility you know, mums who are sleeping in their cars with kids tonight, to pensioners who now would not be eligible,” she said.

“There might be a woman who’s fleeing a violent relationship.

“She has a child in her car, if she just tips over that ­eligibility criteria, these new rules mean she won’t be offered emergency housing.”

The government said those fleeing domestic and family violence would be assisted through shelters, supported accommodation or the private market.

Housing Minister Sam O’Connor said all eligibility changes were made in a move away from the former government’s “no questions asked” approach to temporary accommodation.

“Under Labor, people who already had housing support – or who turned down offers of housing – could still get a motel room funded indefinitely by taxpayers, no questions asked,” he said.

Labor on Monday demanded the government release the independent report into homelessness.

That report will never be released. The government will rely on the homeless ministerial advisory council to develop its securing housing foundations plan.

Originally published as Qld housing crisis: Criteria change for temporary accommodation hit