Push for dedicated housing for Qld’s mentally ill homeless

The state’s psychiatrists fear the government is not prioritising those with severe mental health conditions in its Homes for Queenslanders strategy.

The state’s psychiatrists fear the government is not prioritising those with severe psychiatric conditions in its Homes for Queenslanders strategy, as they claim the homelessness crisis is fuelling the mental health crisis.

The Queensland Branch of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is urging the Department of Housing to allocate at least 10 per cent of their social homes for people with severe and complex psychiatric conditions.

Chair of the RANZCP Queensland Professor Brett Emmerson said that while the government has acknowledged the need for understanding the interdependency between mental health, homelessness and housing need and delivering co-ordinated responses in their Housing and Homeless Action Plan, it was concerning that the housing needs of people with mental health conditions have not been prioritised.

Professor Brett Emmerson, chair of RANZCP Queensland division. Picture: Supplied

“People with severe mental illness disproportionately experience housing insecurity. They cannot be overlooked.” Prof Emmerson said.

In Queensland, nearly 20,000 people are homeless each night, with QCOSS data showing homelessness rising three times faster than the national average in the state.

It is understood that Indigenous Australians in social housing experience more overcrowding compared to others and rates of homelessness are 10 times higher than for non-Indigenous Australians.

Similarly, women and children fleeing family violence are also at greater risk of losing their homes.

Regional Queensland has experienced a 29 per cent spike in homelessness in the four years from 2018-2022, according to the Australian Homelessness Monitor.

“The rate of homelessness is increasing in the bush, where suicide rates are significantly higher than in urban areas, and access to mental health care is much more challenging,” he said. “For many Queenslanders dealing with severe mental health and addiction issues, stable housing is the missing piece of the puzzle.”

Tents where homeless live in Musgrave Park. Picture: John Gass

Prof Emmerson said patients often stay in hospitals longer than necessary because there is no safe place for them to go.

“We want to work with the Department, along with people with lived experience of mental illness and their families and carers, in the co-design process of these homes to ensure they meet the diverse needs of Queenslanders,” he said.

A state government spokeswoman said services worked with people to give them the support they needed.

“We have recently provided a 20 per cent funding uplift to all these services as well as more funding for emergency accommodation and our mental health homeless health outreach teams work closely with other community services. The mental health levy – which wouldn’t exist if David Crisafulli and the LNP were in power – has received a $457 million boost in this year’s budget,” she said.

Originally published as Push for dedicated housing for Qld’s mentally ill homeless