Stimulus to fund homelessness hub

A housing and homelessness services hub at Redcliffe is one of the key projects to be delivered as part of the State Government’s SEQ Community Stimulus Program (SEQCSP).

The Moreton Bay Region will get $13.8 million to fund 24 projects and create 226 jobs.

The Redcliffe community has been calling for a hub to help the homeless for about a decade and is expected to welcome the news.

Mayor Peter Flannery is certainly pleased to see action in helping the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, exacerbated by COVID-19.

The hub will be built at the Redcliffe – Scarborough Pensioners Hall site at the corner of Portwood St and Oxley Ave, Redcliffe.

“Local volunteer groups and Council have been calling for a dedicated homelessness hub in Redcliffe for years now, so this funding couldn’t come at a more important time,” Mayor Flannery says.

“For nearly a decade we have been lobbying for state and federal funding to get a solution in Redcliffe and Caboolture. I think having a local politician like Yvette D’Ath in a portfolio like health is a real game-changer for us, in terms of getting the Queensland Cabinet to understand our local issues.

“Comparing ABS Census data from 2011 and 2016 shows a dramatic increase of 57.5 per cent in the number of persons experiencing homelessness within the Moreton Bay Region.

“The unfortunate reality we is that not only is it one of the highest growth rates in Queensland, it’s substantially higher than our SEQ counterparts and above the statewide average. This is why we need state and federal assistance with this.

“When Council rolled out our $37 million COVID stimulus package last year, I said I didn’t want anyone to slip through the cracks. So, this support from the State Government is the right kind of investment at the right time, not only as an investment in jobs and our economy and also an investment in the social fabric of our community.”

Bid to make a difference

In announcing the projects to be funded through the first $100 million from the $200 million program, Deputy Premier and Minister for Local Government Steven Miles says they will make a positive difference to communities in most need.

“There’s no doubt these projects will produce enormous benefits by creating employment opportunities and improving liveability,” Mr Miles says.

“The councils tell us that they expect around 1,455 jobs will be created or supported through delivering these projects, which is a terrific result for local economies and most importantly, local families.

“Our councils are best-placed to understand the specific needs of their communities, and by working with the Palaszczuk Government, the outcomes for those communities will be tremendous.

“We made a commitment to provide $200 million over six years to the 12 councils in the region through the South East Queensland Community Stimulus Program, and today’s announcement is the first $100 million being put to use for the people of SEQ.”

State Member for Redcliffe and Health and Ambulance Services Minister Yvette D’Ath says: "I am excited to have secured this vital funding which will support a number of projects in our community, including the construction of the Moreton Bay Housing and Homelessness Services Hub.

“This new hub is something that our community has been calling for and I am proud that the Palaszczuk Government is funding this vital project which will support our members of our community.”

How the hub will help

Cr Karl Winchester (Div 5) says there is a clear need to provide meals and accommodation to help people sleeping rough get back on their feet.

“By demolishing and redeveloping Old Pensioner’s Hall, The Breakfast Club will be able to continue offering their daily meal service, which is an invaluable community service," he explains.

“Vitally the new building will create space to accommodate a specialist housing and homelessness service provider that will provide critical support for people experiencing homelessness.

“This means the building design will have dining capacity for 100 people, office space for the specialist service provider and a commercial kitchen and suitable amenities like toilets, showers and carparking.

“The state funding allows us to redevelop the site and represents a major breakthrough for homelessness support on the Peninsula and across the region.”

The hub project and the other 23 funded by the program will be required to be delivered by June 30, 2024.

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