On the eve of National Homelessness Week, Q Shelter has urged candidates in this year’s Queensland state election to commit to ending homelessness by the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.
The state’s peak housing and homelessness body today launched its 2024 Queensland State Election Policy Platform, outlining six key priorities, including a goal to end and prevent homelessness.
Q Shelter CEO Fiona Caniglia said bold and ambitious targets, backed by adequate investment, are needed.
“We must have bold and ambitious goals that include targets and adequate investment in the right programs so that we prevent and end homelessness in the runway to the 2032 Games,” she said.
The platform defines “ending homelessness” as ensuring that future experiences of homelessness are brief, rare, and non-recurring.
Key recommendations include:
- Support programs to help people sustain tenancies
- More supportive housing for vulnerable individuals
- Early intervention for children at risk
- Integrated family support to prevent youth homelessness
- A significant increase in social and affordable housing
Caniglia emphasized the need for a greater focus on prevention, stating:
“If circumstances such as unemployment or family conflict and violence lead to homelessness, then we need a system that guarantees that experience is brief, rare and non-recurring.”
The full policy platform is available on Q Shelter’s website.