Vision
Improving people's lives through housing and community renewal.
Values
Our commitment to our vision was underpinned by the values of integrity, diversity and respect. These values supported and guided our philosophy of client-focused service delivery.
Objectives
The main objectives of the department, as established by the Housing Act 2003, were to:
- improve access to safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing for Queenslanders
- help contribute to building sustainable communities.
These objectives were primarily achieved through the provision of Government or community-managed social housing or through products and services that supported Queenslanders in the private market.
Functions
The department operated principally under the Housing Act 2003. The Act recognises the Government's role in providing direct housing assistance through flexible and innovative programs. The principal functions of the department, as mandated by the Act, were to:
- provide social housing
- provide grants, loans and other assistance to individuals in need of housing services and entities providing housing assistance
- develop, undertake or support other housing programs and initiatives to:
- promote the development and sustainability of the housing sector
- improve the responsiveness of the housing sector to housing need, housing design and planning issues
- help the housing sector meet the demand for safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing.
- conduct housing-related research
- provide housing-related infrastructure.
The former Department of Housing played an important role in providing direct and indirect housing assistance, and in influencing the overall housing system within Queensland to improve people's lives through housing and community renewal. The department worked closely with community and private organisations and other government agencies to deliver social housing, to assist Queenslanders in the private housing market, promote the supply of affordable housing, and build the capacity of local communities to respond to their own needs.
The department's focus was on assisting households in housing need, for the duration of that need, who found it difficult or impossible to independently access and/or sustain appropriate housing. Primarily, assistance was provided to low-income households, people with complex needs, people with disabilities, people in crisis and Indigenous people.
The department delivered a range of housing assistance services which were provided through Government-owned and managed social housing and grant funding to registered providers of community and local government-managed social housing. It also worked to help people access and sustain housing in the private rental market through bond loans, rental grants, RentConnect, the National Rental Affordability Scheme and the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (Queensland).
By taking a responsive, integrated and flexible service approach in developing solutions to meet the housing needs of Queenslanders, the department improved people's access to secure, affordable and appropriate housing, which contributed to individual, family, and community sustainability across the State.
