A special meeting of Emergency Housing Security Stakeholders last week brought together the Government and key representatives from the housing and homelessness sector to discuss the housing challenges the recent flooding created.
Welcomed by the Minister for Communities and Housing, Leeanne Enoch, the members came together to share insights, identify where assistance was needed and develop responses.
“We work with these key stakeholders all-year-round to coordinate our activities and share information, but responding to this unprecedented event will require us to strengthen that united approach,” Ms Enoch said.
“This meeting demonstrates our intent to join forces to find safe and secure housing as quickly as possible for impacted people,” she said.
Ms Enoch said the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy provided an overview of the Government response and gathered local intelligence from stakeholders about what they were seeing across different communities impacted by the disaster.
She said the emergency housing response was activated early and Queenslanders were already receiving support.
“Emergency housing assistance is available and we are assisting more than 245 households with their emergency or temporary accommodation needs across Brisbane, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Logan, the Gold Coast, Maroochydore, Maryborough and Gympie,” the Minister said.
“Our local housing service centres remain open and anyone in need of emergency accommodation is encouraged to reach out either in person or on the phone to discuss their needs.
She said assistance was also available through referral from officers on the ground at evacuation centres and Queensland Government Community Recovery Hubs as they open over the next few days.
Ms Enoch said anyone requiring housing assistance could call their local Housing Service Centre on 13 QGOV (74 68) or the Homelessness Hotline on 1800 474 753.
Further information on housing help after a disaster can be accessed at this PS News link.
