Housing and Homelessness Services Update - July 2010

• Minister's Message

  Queensland is experiencing its largest investment in social housing in decades, with billions allocated to the rollout of a new generation of affordable accommodation - modern, adaptable homes that feature improved energy efficiency and community integration.

• Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan Update

  Since the Australian Government's announcement of its $5.238 billion Nation Building - Economic Stimulus Plan in February 2009, the Queensland Government has worked tirelessly to roll-out a building program that will support local jobs and extend its social housing portfolio to meet the needs of people on low-incomes and those that are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

• Brisbane Common Ground

  Brisbane is set to join a growing list of cities to introduce a social housing development based on the principles of the internationally acclaimed Common Ground model.

• New social housing in Doomadgee

  To meet Doomadgee's need for social housing, 12 new homes were recently relocated to the community through the National Partnership Agreement for Remote Indigenous Housing.

• National Community Housing Standards Manual

  On 9 June 2010, the Federal Housing Minister, Tanya Plibersek and the Community Housing Federation of Australia launched the third edition of the National Community Housing Standards Manual.

• Garden awards in bloom

  The department's annual Water-Wise Garden Awards are on again. The awards, which are open to all social housing tenants, recognise the important role tenants play in improving their local community.

• Consultation for Tenant Participation program

  The department's Tenant Participation program is a volunteer program that provides social housing tenants with opportunities to network, get involved in their local communities, and develop skills and confidence to make decisions that impact positively on their lives.

• Indigenous women in hard hats

  Indigenous Women in Hard Hats is a pilot training program designed to make the path to employment easier for women in non-traditional industries such as construction, engineering and technology.

• More help for renters

  People needing help to enter the private rental market now have more services available with the expansion of RentConnect to include 14 locations across Queensland.

• Households benefit from NRAS

  More than 280 households have benefited from the National Rental Affordability Scheme (NRAS), which aims to stimulate the supply of up to 50,000 new affordable rental dwellings across Australia by 2012.

• Housing complex honours volunteer

  A social housing unit complex in Inala has been named after one of the area's tireless community volunteers.