The South Burnett Housing and Homelessness Forum will finally be held next month.
After having to cancel the last forum due to localised flooding, the committee has announced a new date – Friday 7 October 2022 with the forum to be held at the Nanango Cultural Centre.
All attendees who registered for the last event have been emailed with the updated link to re-register for the new date.
People interested in attending and working together to support those in need in our community can register to attend this event via the link www.SBHousingForum22.eventbrite.com.
Alternatively, you can contact Matt if you require more information: Matthew Kenny – South Burnett CTC Inc P: 4162 9000 E: admin@sbctc.com.au
This postponed date is announced as the Queensland Government established a Housing Summit roundtable discussion on Friday, 16 September ahead of a Queensland Housing Summit which will be held in October.
“Nothing is more important than having a roof over your head – it’s a basic need – and the stories of people without secure housing are heartbreaking,” Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk said.
“Affordable housing is critical to maintaining our great Queensland lifestyle.
WHY A SOUTH BURNETT FORUM IS NEEDED
In the face of a national housing crisis, key agencies in the South Burnett including South Burnett CTC, South Burnett Regional Council, Q Shelter, Regional Housing Limited and Kingaroy Chamber of Commerce
and Industry are seeking community input to find workable solutions for our region.
The Queensland Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy has reported that 189 persons accessed support to find accommodation in the South Burnett in 2021.
Many of these people had only ever accessed private housing which is no longer an option for them due to the increase in cost of rent, decreasing number of rentals available on the market, or repeated unsuccessful applications through private owners and agents.
“The real number of people experiencing housing accessibility issues is much higher”, said South Burnett CTC CEO Nina Temperton.
“Many people are still unaware of where to access specialised support and are therefore not recorded in government statistics; they are falling through the gaps.
“Homelessness isn’t always visible and modern homelessness can happen to anyone, often involving families sleeping in cars, on a friend’s couch or camping in a tent.”
Renters in the South Burnett are facing record low vacancy rates of 0.2% compared to a healthy vacancy rate which is between 2.6 – 3.5%, meaning many households are unable to locate suitable accommodation.
“This is a complex issue with many flow-on effects in our community and requires a coordinated response”, said Cr Kirstie Schumacher of South Burnett Regional Council.
“No single organisation, government agency, business or person can solve this crisis. We need a holistic response that requires all levels of government, support agencies, community and importantly private
enterprise.”
The forum aims to explore the many facets influencing the current housing crisis and consider community and stakeholder input to inform the creation of a local South Burnett Housing Action Plan.
The Plan will outline both short term solutions to assist those in most immediate need, as well as longer term initiatives designed to encourage the creation of a variety of additional housing outcomes well into
the future.
Q Shelter executive director Fiona Caniglia commended the group on taking the initiative to bring the forum together.
“The availability and affordability of housing really is a national emergency. The forum in South Burnett is perfectly timed, and if it can work towards a clear action plan as an outcome, we can all work together to present that to the three levels of government,” she said.
The first South Burnett Housing and Homelessness Forum will be a facilitated session allowing people to contribute in a range of ways so that we hear all voices. We will be asking attendees to share what they are
seeing in their community and share their ideas to solve some of these issues.
