National Homeless Persons’ Week, 6-12 August

A 17% hike over two years in Brisbane’s average rent is creating an affordable housing crisis and causing many disadvantaged singles and families to be at risk of homelessness or to seek crisis accommodation support, according to Mission Australia and current research.

Since 2004, the average cost of renting a one-bedroom unit in Brisbane has increased from $170 per week to $200 per week in 2006 (1). Mission Australia’s Queensland and Northern Territory State Manager, Lincoln Hopper, said National Homeless Persons’ Week (6-12 August) was the perfect time to raise awareness about the plight of homelessness in Brisbane.

“We are seeing a growing number of people at risk of homelessness and approaching housing support organisations, like Mission Australia, for help. ¬¬National Homeless Persons’ Week is the ideal time to highlight the issue,” Mr Hopper said.

Figures released from local referral agency, HART 4000, show that since opening in November 2005, its service has received 1,360 requests from homeless people, or people at risk of homelessness, seeking crisis accommodation and assistance.

“The property boom is having the unintended consequence of placing a great deal of pressure on low income singles and families attempting to stay in the rental market. It’s harder now, more than ever, for a homeless person to access affordable housing,” Mr Hopper said.

Brisbane City Council’s Finding Beds for Homeless People 2004 report reinforced the need for additional crisis beds and affordable housing options, stating an additional 30-50 beds were needed as an initial response to homelessness.

“With around 5,000 homeless people in the Greater Brisbane area – including around 350(2) ‘rough sleepers’ – additional facilities such as Mission Australia’s new Roma House are urgently needed to deal with demand,” Mr Hopper said.

Opening in October this year, Roma House will be a breakthrough in crisis accommodation for Queensland’s homeless people. It will provide meals, day support, recreational activities, access to health care and other community services and tailored case management support for each person.

One person who has experienced the difficulties of finding affordable housing in Brisbane first hand is Mission Australia’s Café One volunteer, Phil, who was homeless for two months before being accepted into a boarding house in Fortitude Valley.

“When I was living in Brisbane seven years ago, it was easy to find cheap share accommodation, but this time it took me two months to find a place to live, which was really tough,” Phil said.

“Most places require a couple of weeks’ rent upfront and for many low-income earners like me, it’s difficult to afford.

“That’s why you often end up in crisis accommodation and that’s why it’s so important that there are enough available.”

The Roma House project is part of the Queensland Government’s Responding to Homelessness Strategy, which allocates $235 million over the next four years to services in Queensland.

It is an initiative funded by the Department of Communities and the Department of Housing and managed by Mission Australia.
Mission Australia and other housing support services are working with the State Government to address the homelessness issues facing Queensland.

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Queensland has the second highest per capita rate of homelessness in Australia (3)
• 24% of Australia’s homeless population lives in Queensland (4)
• Lengthy waiting lists for affordable and appropriate longer-term housing (5)
• Only 1 in 7 homeless people find a bed using the current system (6).

For further information: Sarah Morgan, Rowland – 0410 641 886

1. June Quarter 2006 Rental Data, Queensland Residential Tenancy Authority
2. Brisbane City Council’s Homeless Strategy
3. Counting the Homeless 2001 census data
4. Counting the Homeless 2001 census data
5. Social Justice, Queensland’s Ongoing Challenges, Australian Public Access Network Association website
6. Social Justice, Queensland’s Ongoing Challenges, Australian Public Access Network Association website