One of Queensland’s leading providers of accommodation to homeless people has seen a continual rise in the number of people needing housing support as rents increase in the booming property sector.

Roma House at Spring Hill, managed by Mission Australia, has recorded a steady increase in residents since it opened in November last year, now recording 100 per cent capacity with residents staying on average for three months.

Roma House’s referral agency, Homeless Persons Information Queensland (HPIQ)*, has also recorded an average increase of 54% each month since launching in April last year, with the latest available figures in January 2007 showing 1,123 calls made to the service that month.

Mission Australia’s Executive Leader for Community Services Lincoln Hopper said a combination of issues was contributing to homelessness including mental health problems, drug and alcohol addictions, histories of abuse and the emerging housing affordability crisis.

The state’s median house price had more than doubled from about $160,000 in 2001 to $325,000 at December 31, far outstripping the increase in average household incomes.

“The lack of housing affordability is definitely impacting on homeless numbers,” Lincoln said.

Based on figures from the 2001 Census, approximately 100,000 Australians are homeless on any one night. Of that number, around 25,000 are in Queensland, the second highest rate of homelessness in Australia.

“These figures are hopelessly out of date and we will have to wait until next year when the homeless numbers from the 2006 Census are officially released to get a more accurate picture,” Lincoln said.

“But from our experience as one of the country’s largest providers of emergency accommodation, we believe homeless numbers are on the rise, and across all demographics.”

Tracey, a former Roma House resident and mother of two, has lived on the streets for around five months after suffering from domestic abuse, alcohol dependency and mental health problems. Her children were placed into foster care in 2003 and she is now allowed fortnightly visitations.

Tracey eventually moved into Roma House and more recently into semi-independent housing at Brisbane’s Boundary Street boarding complex.

With her health problems and dependencies now in check, her biggest concern now is whether she’ll ever be able to afford to live in a home of her own with her children again.

“Without a permanent job, I’m worried how I’ll ever afford to pay rent for a place large enough for my kids and me to live in, let alone pay for other every day items like food and school costs. I never want to get in the situation again where I’m forced back on the streets,” Tracey said.

The Queensland Government’s recently launched Housing Affordability Strategy has injected funds to increase public housing in Queensland.

“That’s a wonderful step. Those in the sector are also looking for a national approach to cross state borders and to tackle the root cause, not the symptoms of homelessness,” Lincoln said.

“Crisis accommodation services can be one-dimensional There is often no differentiation in the support offered to a recently homeless person compared to someone who has been homeless for many years.

“The ‘one size fits all’ approach can add to the institutionalisation of homeless people, entrenching them deeper in the situation.”

Roma House is considered a groundbreaking approach to homelessness. Unique in Queensland, it provides a 24-hour, intensive support base for the state’s homeless men, women and families – helping them transition from the streets into a more independent, sustainable and safe mode of living.

Residents of Roma House can access a variety of health and professional services including:

• On-site medical care and rehabilitation
• Finance guidance
• Family/relationship counselling
• Access to employment and training programs
• Access to affordable housing if appropriate.

“This National Homeless Persons’ Week, Mission Australia is calling for a national housing strategy which will create a plan to, among other things, create more affordable housing, more public housing, and boost tailored support services to help us tackle the rising numbers of homeless people,” Lincoln said.

For further information contact Fran Rossberg, Rowland – 07 3229 4499 or 0422 980 120