$2b housing scheme to grow community sector
11 December 2018
Queensland Government:
A new Palaszczuk Government initiative that
unlocks $2 billion worth of equity will provide more social and
affordable
housing for Queenslanders.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni announced the new
Partnering for Growth framework in a presentation to community housing
providers in
Brisbane.
“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to providing more Queenslanders
with more homes,” Mr de Brenni said.
"What's needed is investment, right now, to get us ready for future
demand, and that's just what Partnering for Growth will help us deliver.
“This initiative will enable new collaborations to reduce homelessness
and create pathways to housing independence.”
Partnering for Growth focuses on delivering individualised housing
options, increasing the supply of social and affordable housing and
providing the sector with a streamlined operating framework geared
towards growth.
Mr de Brenni said community housing providers have an important role to
play in delivering social and affordable homes at subsidised rates for
low to moderate income earners.
"We're going to reduce red tape and duplication, while maintaining
appropriate levels of accountability and transparency," Mr de Brenni
said.
"We want the sector to leverage some of the significant investment made
by the government and community housing organisations over the past
decade.
"Until now we've placed too much emphasis on reporting of program funds
rather than exploring how these funds can be better used to provide more
housing and assistance for people in need.
"If we do this, we will be able to meet future demand and provide a
broad range of accommodation options."
Partnering for Growth is already being welcomed by some of the state’s
larger scale community housing providers.
The Palaszczuk Government’s community housing vehicle,
Brisbane Housing
Company (BHC) is embarking on a reinvigorated $222 million, four-year
strategy to deliver 682 new affordable homes for Queenslanders in need.
Mr de Brenni said BHC will be the first ‘cab off the rank’ to deliver a
plan under Partnering for Growth.
“The Palaszczuk Government will make a capital injection of $28 million
to help BHC deliver new affordable homes for Queenslanders,” said Mr de
Brenni.
“This is the first five year development plan for a community housing
provider which will fill the gap between social housing and home
ownership for tens of thousands of Queenslanders.
“Once again, the Palaszczuk Labor Government is doing the heavy lifting
where the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has failed to produce any
meaningful policy to address housing affordability in the last 6 years,”
he said.
“Last year, more people bought their seventh home than those buying
their first, yet all the Prime Minister is focused on is collecting
donations from
Queensland Liberals.”
In contrast, the 682 affordable homes being delivered by the Palaszczuk
Government and BHC will include:
-
172 affordable rental homes
-
90 new affordable homes for purchase
-
70 homes purchased via shared equity
-
200 build to rent homes
-
120 affordable retirement living units
-
30 new specialist disability accommodation homes
BHC Chair Eloise Atkinson said the
company’s Affordable Housing Growth Strategy 2019-2023 was a response to
the agenda outlined by the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 and
would see a partnership with the Queensland Government to deliver
hundreds of new homes.
“We understand the Queensland Government is very ambitious when it comes
to identifying improved housing solutions,” Ms Atkinson said.
“This growth strategy ensures that we are able to deliver a broader
range of options for Queenslanders in housing need.”
Details on the Queensland Government’s housing initiatives can be found
at:www.hpw.qld.gov.au/housing
--ENDS--
Source: Queensland Government - www.statements.qld.gov.au
Contact: Media contact: 0427 018 178
External Links: www.hpw.qld.gov.au/housing
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