The Queensland Government has developed an Implementation Plan Implementation Plan to meet the interim targets set by the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness in partnership with the community services sector.
The Implementation Plan aims to reduce homelessness by:
Breaking the cycle
- A Place to Call Home — Combined funding of $82.23 million from the Australian and Queensland Governments over five years will support homeless people and families to move directly into long-term housing and deliver tenancy and other support for the first 12 months.
- No exits to homelessness — Support services will be established for people exiting the care or custody of the state to reduce the risk of homelessness. Practical assistance with establishing successful tenancies and accessing training and education will be provided.
- Street to Home initiatives for rough sleepers — Initiatives include support for people until they are ready to move into permanent accommodation, intensive support to assist them to resettle, and establishment of long-term accommodation that incorporates features of the 'Common Ground' model.
- Targeting Indigenous homelessness — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will benefit from the initiatives in the Implementation Plan together with other targeted reforms including the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing. Initiatives in the plan will aim to minimise barriers experienced by Indigenous people accessing services.
Early intervention
- A focus on young people — Early intervention is a priority to prevent young people becoming homeless and assist in their transition to independent living. New and expanded initiatives will deliver integrated support and innovative accommodation options.
- Helping people sustain tenancies — Initiatives include support for vulnerable tenants who are having difficulties in the private rental market or social housing to help them to maintain existing tenancies or help overcome barriers to accessing new tenancies in the private rental market.
- Integrated support tailored to meet client needs — Initiatives will support people at risk of becoming homeless by providing job preparation assistance and links to employment and education services, as well as support to improve their economic and social outcomes.
- Better access to social housing — The Australian Government's Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Plan will provide more than 4,000 new social housing dwellings in Queensland over three years. Recent reforms to one social housing system will ensure that housing is allocated to people with the highest housing need, including people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Improving and expanding the service system
- Working with local communities and services — Homelessness services in targeted locations will be supported and strengthened to improve service delivery and maximise outcomes from existing and new investment.
System improvements and coordination — Community services will be streamlined and services will be better coordinated to help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Initiatives include improved case management of clients, data collection and reporting to measure progress in addressing homelessness.
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