Housing and Homelessness Services Update – March 2012

• RentConnect expands to 16 Queensland locations

  The RentConnect Advisory Service is now available at the Capalaba and Gladstone Housing Service Centres launched in February 2012.

• Townsville's new supportive accommodation service

  An innovative new temporary accommodation support service opened its doors in Townsville in November 2011.

• Local plans to combat homelessness

  Communities throughout Queensland have come together to create local action plans to help reduce homelessness.

• Homelessness Program Guidelines online

  Comprehensive information on Homelessness Programs' purpose and scope, and expectations and requirements of homelessness grant funding are now available on the departments website.

• Designing one system for Australia's community housing

  States and territories are working together to develop a nationally regulated not-for-profit community housing provider system.

• Nation Building helps house ageing population

  Hundreds of new homes will provide suitable accommodation for older Queenslanders in the coming years, thanks to the Nation Building Economic Stimulus Plan: Social Housing Initiative.

• Updating skills in the social housing sector

  The department has contracted the Queensland Community Housing Coalition (QCHC) to deliver a two-year Diploma of Social Housing to 15 people working full-time in the social housing industry.

• Stable housing a lifeline

  Stable housing is a platform to training and employment, and the foundation from which we run the rest of our lives.

• Indigenous Community Housing Organisations Transition Project

  Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people living in community-managed social housing will benefit from $60 million from the Australian Government to refurbish up to 682 dwellings throughout regional and urban Queensland.