Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Politics
Fraser Barton

Social housing data to become available in Queensland

The Queensland government has committed to publishing social housing data each quarter. (Dan Peled/AAP PHOTOS)

Data on social and affordable housing for each quarter will be made publicly available, the Queensland government says.

A key recommendation from an October 2022 summit was for the state government to outline and release such housing data.

The summit was called after the Queensland government came under pressure over accommodation shortages, with social housing demand rising amid a cost of living crisis.

Approximately 1600 people have been added to the state's housing register recently, according to the Queensland Council of Social Services (QCOSS).

But six months after taking over as Housing Minister, Meaghan Scanlon on Friday said demand was stabilising.

She said there were 25,362 housing register applications for the September quarter, a slight decrease from June 30.

The total number of people waiting on the housing register as of September is 43,074.

"What that shows is the housing list has stabilised," Ms Scanlon told reporters.

"In the last 90 days, we have found a social home for 848 new households while also providing nearly $10 million in rent relief to help people."

Ms Scanlon also announced an additional $23 million in funding towards immediate housing responses for families.

That is on top of a $54 million funding commitment towards social housing made at the 2022 summit. 

The QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh said it was desperately needed.

"We welcome the Queensland government's continued focus on housing, but we need to see a rapid increase in housing supply if we are going to come even close to fixing the current crisis," she said.

"We need to see 2700 social homes alone built every year across the state, for the next decade, to make a difference.

"We look forward to the impending release of the Queensland Government's new long-term plan for housing. 

"Never has a long-term housing plan been so important."

Ms Scanlon on Friday also confirmed the government would purchase the Park Hotel in central Brisbane which provides 84 units of accommodation for vulnerable people.

"By purchasing this hotel it means that we have locked it in for the future," she said.

The units and communal spaces could be upgraded and there would be no need for continual lease negotiations, Ms Scanlon added. 

"There is still work to do to make sure we close the gap when it comes to overcrowding, particularly for First Nations people in social housing, and to make sure that we continue to see our social housing stock fully utilised."

The Queensland government has committed $5 billion to social and affordable housing investment in June's state budget that will help commence 13,500 homes by 2027.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.