Alongside 12 leading community organisations, QCOSS is running the Town of Nowhere campaign, calling on the Queensland Labor Government to invest $4 Billion in building 14,700 social housing dwellings.

We welcome Federal Labor’s announcement that, if elected, they would invest $10 billion to build 30,000 social and affordable housing dwellings.

QCOSS CEO Aimee McVeigh:

“For too long we’ve been using emergency sandbags against what is a tsunami of need. It is great to see Federal Labor acknowledge that governments have a responsibility to invest in social housing.

“But the housing crisis won’t be solved by the Federal Government alone. We need the Queensland Government to step up in June’s budget.”

Anglicare Central Queensland CEO Carol Godwin:

“The Federal and State Governments need to stop the finger pointing and look at a strong and shared commitment to increasing social housing right across Queensland.

“Queensland’s housing crisis isn’t going away. 14,700 safe, secure properties are needed now before the train completely runs away. This is the time for our Queensland Government to demonstrate the strength and leadership required to turn this crisis around.

Wesley Mission Queensland CEO Jude Emmer:

“Our services are seeing a significant and concerning increase in Queenslanders without homes or on the brink of homelessness and, unless there’s a substantial increase in funding, the situation is going to escalate.”

Mission Australia’s Queensland State Director Stephen Vines:

“The Queensland State Government must not take a back seat on the issue of homelessness and affordable housing.

“That’s why we call on our State Government to build enough social housing to address the severe shortage of affordable housing, prevent more people becoming homeless and to ultimately help end homelessness in Queensland.”

Kyabra Community Association CEO David O’Toole:

“Vulnerable Queensland families need the Queensland Government to lead the way in addressing the crisis of homelessness in our state. A major investment in the upcoming Budget is urgently required.

“The Queensland Government has a once in a lifetime opportunity to demonstrate how economic recovery in this state can be achieved through improved social housing outcomes.”

YFS Logan CEO Cath Bartolo:

“It’s a terrible shame that the Federal Government has missed the opportunity to address the housing crisis we are facing. We can’t afford for the Queensland Government to do the same. Too many families in Logan are struggling to find a home right now.”

St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland CEO Kevin Mercer:

“People are being priced out of homes they’ve lived in for years and in regions like coastal and regional Queensland, there is just nothing affordable available.

“We’ve already seen a direct increase in people and families resorting to sleeping in a car or tent.

“We hope the State Government will be following their Federal counterparts’ lead on addressing this serious issue in the State Budget.”