The Palaszczuk Government is launching a bold new housing plan backed by $1.9 billion investment over four years and a new $1 billion Housing Investment Fund to boost housing supply and increase housing and homelessness support across Queensland.
This is the largest concentrated investment in social housing in Queensland's history.
Minister for Housing Leeanne Enoch said through the State Budget, and today's release of the new Queensland Housing Strategy Action Plan 2021-2025, the Palaszczuk Government was acting immediately to address housing needs across Queensland.
"We know the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as interstate migration are adding more pressure to the housing market, and this is making it harder for people to find a home, especially vulnerable Queenslanders who are experiencing financial stress, Minister Enoch said.
"That is why we are investing $1.9 billion over four years to increase social housing stock and get more vulnerable Queenslanders into homes quicker.
"To support this, we are establishing a new $1 billion Housing Investment Fund, the returns from which will drive new supply to support current and future housing need.
"Under our Action Plan, we will fast-track projects and initiatives that will increase the supply of social housing, seek proposals to develop underutilised state land, and deliver mixed-use developments.
"The Government is increasing the supply of social and affordable housing by almost 10,000 over the life of our Housing Strategy, including 7,400 new builds over the next four years under the Queensland Housing Investment Growth Initiative (QHIGI).
"We will also deliver more support for women and families who are experiencing, or are at risk of, domestic and family violence or homelessness.
"Our Government also recognises the importance of supporting vulnerable people to access housing options and stay in their homes, including through integrated mobile or onsite support services, and this framework is also outlined in the Action Plan."
"This new Action Plan builds upon the momentum created since the Palaszczuk Government's 10-year Queensland Housing Strategy was launched in 2017, while also responding to current, unforeseen challenges that Queensland is now facing," Minister Enoch said.
"The funds will also be used to ready government land for projects, preliminary works on identified sites and scoping and feasibility studies to get more Queenslanders into stable accommodation faster."
The Queensland Housing Strategy Action Plan 2021-2025 includes an ongoing commitment to deliver essential services to Queenslanders, with an investment of $94.9 million over four years.
This includes essential services for people experiencing homelessness, women and families experiencing domestic and family violence, and dedicated responses for vulnerable young people.
