The Priority Project

How you can help

If you are a landlord/property owner, you can absolutely help by prioritising rental to women who really need a hand – 12 month tenancies are desired. This project is designed to provide extra supports to women (through the project partners) so they can settle and not be ‘stuck’ without the security of a tenancy – your help is critical in this project. Landlords who are sympathetic, want to be part of the housing and homelessness solution, and who also appreciate the possible advantages to them (such as long-term tenancies and minimal vacancy times), are able to help. In a recent survey, 75% of landlords told us they were interested in prioritising rental to our target women.

If you are a real-estate agent, you can help too. Agents managing properties are a critical partner as it is also you we need across South East Queensland. We know through surveying that landlords are interested in supporting women and this project provides a way to involve new stakeholders to the housing crisis. It can also support your commitments to community impact and does not require significant change to your processes. In fact, it may reduce time spent securing tenants.

Contact us for more information about the project, including any questions and concerns you may have. The referral process, including required checks and supports, has been mapped out and will continue to evolve as the project progresses.

Project partners and history

This project is a partnership between community services, real-estate agents and property owners. Stakeholders have been designing this first-of-its-kind solution over a couple of years, supported by The Constellation Project. Mission Australia is now facilitating a pilot which has been made possible through philanthropic funding. Pilot partners also include The Salvation Army and McGrath North Lakes. The pilot will be evaluated with the intention of the project continuing – as it scales across SEQ.

The Priority Project location

At first, the focus of this pilot is North Brisbane. Over time, more suburbs in SEQ will have rentals available. The location shown here is where the project’s Partnership Broker is based. Support workers referring women will work across SEQ.

Who we assist

Current service users of DFV services (such as Salvation Army or IFS) with or without children – focus on those with children

Eligibility criteria

If women:
> are referred by Mission Australia or The Salvation Army in SEQ*. This will ensure that; an appropriate risk assessment is already in place and the referring service has a commitment to support the woman during her residential tenancy or until which time they deem support is no longer required.
> are a primary caregiver of one or more children under 18. The service will be available to women without children also.
> have enough income (regular or Centrelink income) to afford weekly rental payments - there is minimal pilot funding for subsidies.
*At this stage, private rentals are highly likely to be concentrated around North Brisbane. As more real-estate agents participate, more suburbs in SEQ will have rentals available.

Referral process

Via the service sector

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The Priority Project location

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