The Foyer Foundation recognises the important measures announced in the Queensland Budget to address the drivers of homelessness by relieving cost-of-living pressures and tackling the housing crisis.
We know the need is dire, with an estimated 4,800 children and young people aged 12 to 24 sleeping rough, couch surfing, or living in improvised or severely crowded dwellings in Queensland. In Moreton Bay, for example, we’re seeing an unprecedented acceleration in homelessness compared to the area’s neighbours. Between the 2011 and 2016 census, homelessness increased by 57%.
We are pleased to see the government’s Homes for Queenslanders package, worth $3.1 billion over five years, including a capital component of $1.36 billion over four years towards new social housing.
The Homes for Queenslanders package includes confirmation of the Youth Subsidy for community housing, which will help support young people living in Registered Community Housing Provider accommodation, such as Youth Foyers, allowing them to house more young people.
“The Youth Subsidy will help level the playing field for young people experiencing homelessness by making youth-specific community housing solutions more viable,” Foyer Foundation CEO LIz Cameron-Smith said.
The Foyer Foundation would like to reiterate its support for the Queensland Government’s announcement in February that it would fund eight Youth Foyers across the state, with Cairns, Moreton Bay and Hervey Bay first off the rank.
“We appreciate the Queensland Government’s commitment to invest in Youth Foyers as an evidence-based solution to youth homelessness that gets results,” Cameron-Smith said. “Now that the budget has been handed down, we look forward to working with the Queensland Government to ensure all eight Youth Foyers are commissioned to ensure high standards in design, building and service provision. These quality standards are essential to ensuring the Queensland Government’s investment will deliver the learning, education and housing outcomes young Queenslanders deserve.
“The Queensland Government’s leadership will take us closer to our national goal of 50 Foyers by 2030, and we encourage other states and territories to follow suit.”
