Media Statements Coat of Arms Media Release Minister for Housing and Public Works The Honourable Tim Mander Wednesday, March 12, 2014 A helping hand for the peninsula’s homeless Efforts to tackle homelessness in Redcliffe took another step forward today with the announcement of a new 20 bed supported accommodation facility on Henry Street. Housing Minister Tim Mander said the facility delivers on the election promise to boost frontline services, after the issue was ignored by the previous Labor government. “The $4 million facility will include 24/7 onsite management and will provide short to medium term housing for those in the local community who have fallen on hard times,” Mr Mander said. “Putting an end to homelessness is about much more than just finding a place for people to sleep. “The underlying causes, like domestic violence, addiction and mental illness don’t just disappear once people have a roof over their heads. “At facilities like this one, people will be linked with the support they need to overcome those issues, and break out of the cycle they’re in.” Mr Mander said the project would be the first of three supported accommodation facilities delivered across the state under the Government’s Homelessness-to-Housing Strategy and would provide residents with the support they needed to get their lives back on track. CEO of the Queensland Council of Social Service Mark Henley said he welcomed the Government’s investment in housing to address homelessness. “While it will be important that key services support people to sustain their tenancies, it is critical that the causes of homelessness are addressed,” Mr Henley said. Mr Mander said the Henry Street project demonstrated the importance of the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness and called on the Commonwealth to provide certainty about funding. “I’m still hopeful that the Federal Government will come to the party before the current agreement expires at the end of June,” he said. “But it’s no exaggeration to say that projects like this will be a lot harder deliver if we don’t have all levels of government pulling in the same direction.” The Henry Street facility is expected to be complete by late 2014. More information on the development and the Homelessness-to-Housing Strategy 2020 is available at hpw.qld.gov.au/housing [ENDS] 12 March 2014 Media contact: Martin Kennedy 0407 643 998
Posted on: Wed, 12 Mar 2014 10:19:17 +0000
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