Opportunities to support Redlands Coast residents in need or at risk of homelessness have been identified in a Local Housing Action Plan (LHAP) endorsed by Redland City Council.
All Queensland councils have been directed by the Queensland Government to develop a LHAP as an action from the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025.
Mayor Jos Mitchell said Redland City Council’s LHAP identified needs and possible solutions to local housing challenges.
“Although the provision of social housing is a state government responsibility, councils play a role in identifying local needs, advocacy and reducing barriers to the provision of social and affordable housing,” she said.
“Council has already adopted a policy to support and encourage the delivery of affordable housing development by offering discounts on development application fees and infrastructure charges for community housing providers and fast-tracking the decision-making process.
“The Affordable Housing Policy was endorsed in December and Council has received several applications, including one that has been approved.”
The LHAP identified four priority areas of community vulnerability in relation to housing challenges on Redlands Coast: the islands, households impacted by domestic and family violence, older people, and homelessness and rough sleepers.
“There is a low availability of social housing on the islands and there is also a risk of people being displaced from their communities,” the Mayor said.
“This needs to be balanced with health, employment and other social supports that are more readily available on the mainland.
“There is also an urgent need for a dedicated space to provide essential health, wellbeing and domestic and family violence services for families.
“There are also challenges for older people who wish to remain living in the local community, including the need for a range of affordable housing options that meet their changing needs and are close to community services and amenities.
“Homelessness is another issue and there is a need to increase youth accommodation and support services on Redlands Coast, in particular a crisis accommodation facility for young people for short-term stays.”
The Mayor said Council worked with multiple service providers to support those experiencing housing crisis or who are at risk of homelessness on Redlands Coast.
“Council’s community safety team engages directly with homeless clients and connects them with support services,” she said.
“Council also supports the Footprints mobile shower bus and Night Ninjas, which delivers donated food and essential items to people in need.
“There are also a number of community organisations that have been able to access grants through Council’s Civic Support Fund to provide cost-of-living relief to vulnerable residents this financial year.”
The Mayor said the LHAP not only highlighted the measures Council was already undertaking but outlined priority actions to target the four key focus areas.
“The plan outlines both the role Council can play to assist local service providers and potential avenues through which Council can advocate for state and federal government funding to help these providers support those at risk of homelessness or in a crisis situation,” she said.
