Overview of Indigenous housing and homelessness programs

Gary Oliver, Executive Director - Indigenous Housing and Homelessness Programs

The Department of Communities (Housing and Homelessness Services) Indigenous Housing and Homelessness Programs aims to remove homelessness and overcrowding in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through provision of social housing programs to 16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils, encompassing 34 discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. This support includes construction of new houses, an annual upgrade program and provision of planned and responsive maintenance to improve housing for these tenants in communities.

In addition, Indigenous Housing and Homelessness Programs provide support for tenancy management and capacity building to the 16 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils.

Legislative reforms introduced in 2008 enable eligible people to become homeowners on Indigenous land by acquiring a 99 year lease for private residential purposes.

From 2009, funding and housing support for Indigenous community housing in Queensland will be provided by Housing and Homelessness Services. A discussion paper is currently available seeking comment on enabling home ownership on Indigenous communal lands.

Indigenous Women in Hard Hats is a new initiative being trialed in the Townsville region by Housing and Homelessness Services. Indigenous Women in Hard Hats is an employment and training program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Townsville. Indigenous Women in Hard Hats encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to consider careers in non-traditional 'hard-hat' industries such as building and construction.