State budget social housing fail as mum, six kids face life on the street

A Queensland family, which includes six children and a dependent grandma, are facing life in a tent as the rental crisis deepens – and no state government help from the budget in sight.

The Palaszczuk government has committed no new money for social housing construction despite pleas from advocates for a funding boost as more than 50,000 people wait for a home.

Of the $1.9bn the government set aside last year for its housing and homelessness plan, $441.3m will be spent this year building new social homes and upgrading existing ones.

But there is no new money for social housing construction beyond what was announced in last year’s budget – which included the $1bn Housing Investment Fund.

Treasurer Cameron Dick defended the move on Tuesday, as he pointed out that 95 per cent of people didn’t live in social and affordable housing.

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) hit out at the government, saying it was extremely disappointed at the lack of extra money.

“We welcome the Queensland government’s commitment to build hospitals,” QCOSS chief executive Aimee McVeigh said.

“It demonstrates that the Queensland government can build things. They should build social housing. Queensland is in the grip of a housing crisis.”

Mr Dick said when it came to affordability in the private housing sector, there was an “all-time record” of $10.6bn of residential property work in the pipeline – which is equivalent to about 40,000 homes.

And he insisted the government was delivering a “record” investment in social housing that no other government had made.

“But of course getting properties built is the greatest challenge that we face,” he said.

“And I know the (Housing) Minister (Leeanne Enoch) is working as hard as she can to do that with the pressure that is on with labour skill shortages and also the supply chain coming into housing.”

Real Estate Institute of Queensland chief executive Antonia Mercorella said her organisation was also disappointed by a lack of action on social housing in the budget.

“The housing crisis has seen us join statewide calls from councils, community services and industry bodies for an increase in social housing funding – that sadly hasn’t materialised in this budget,” she said.

Mr Dick used his budget speech to announce the government would spend $29.8m over the next four years on support initiatives to address youth homelessness.

The move will deliver housing support for young Queenslanders, as well as help them develop social and economic independence.

According to the latest publicly available figures, there were 50,301 people on the social housing register as of June 30 last year.

Construction will start on 7,400 new dwellings under the government’s housing and homelessness plan.

‘SIX DAYS TIL WE’RE ON THE STREET’

Kendal, 3, Bentley, 10, Layton, 9, Kinsley, 3, Layton (9), and (front) baby Charlotte (19 months) with Paitton, 12, may have to live in a tent if they can’t find a new rental soon.

Sunshine Coast mother-of-six Skye Scott is contemplating living in a tent with her young family as Queensland's rental crisis deepens – with no state government help from the budget in sight.

Ms Scott said an inability to secure temporary accommodation following the termination of her rental contract left her with no option but to consider pitching a tent.

She was given just 30 days to find accommodation for her family, including her dependent mother, several children with special needs and a baby with cerebral palsy.

She hoped to receive news of increased governmental support for the “overrun” Department of Housing in Tuesday’s state budget.

However, she could only describe the lack of a solution for the housing crisis as “disappointing” and “ridiculous.”

“(The government doesn’t) know what it’s like to be an everyday Australian, struggling, living week-to-week, having to rent a house because there’s just not enough help to buy one either,” she said.

Soaring rental prices and the cost of living have stranded more than 50,000 people on the waiting list for social housing.

Ms Scott’s mother criticised the government’s disregard of the housing crisis on Facebook.

“We are now down to our last six days before we have to leave … (and) are struggling to even find temporary accommodation due to everything being booked,” she said.

“It’s too cold for kids in a tent! Whoever said Australia was the lucky country?”

Originally published as State budget social housing fail as mum, six kids face life on the street