The finishing touches are being applied to 40 new social housing units on the Sunshine Coast, with plans for a further 14 units now also in the works.
The 32 one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom units at Little Mountain were built by the state government in partnership with Churches of Christ Housing Services.
The units have been built to gold accessibility standards for people with a disability and seniors with mobility needs.
Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon visited the site last week, saying the new units would help more people have a place to call home.
“When building is complete, these houses will become a home for older Queenslanders, people with a disability and couples,” she said.
The state government provided $10.2 million for the construction of the new units, which supported about 62 full-time equivalent construction jobs.
It comes after the Homes for Queenslanders plan was launched earlier this year, which includes a target of 53,500 more social homes by 2046.
The target was informed by modelling done by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute.
Ms Scanlon also announced that another 14 homes on the Coast would be built through the Housing Investment Fund, for women and children escaping domestic and family violence.
This includes nine homes in the Noosa area in partnership with community housing provider Coast2Bay, and five homes in Caloundra South in partnership with local charity Lily House.
“These houses are more than just four walls and a roof, they’re an opportunity women and children to get access to the support they need, education and economic opportunity,” Ms Scanlon said.
Coast2Bay and Lily House will partner with local support services including the Queensland Police Service, the Salvation Army and DV Connect to house families with no safe place to go.
“The five homes which the Housing Investment Fund will support will allow Lily House to provide a safe and secure home for women and children fleeing domestically violent situations,” Lily House business manager Jo Higgins said.
“Lily House truly appreciates the government’s support, which in turn enables our organisation to support some of our most vulnerable families.”
Coast2Bay CEO Andrew Elvin said the initiative would help provide long-term social housing solutions.
“A safe, affordable and secure home is a fundamental human right – we all need to continue to work together to address the urgent need for housing,” he said.
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt also welcomed the plan.
“Every Queenslander deserves a place to call home. That means we need to build more homes – it’s that simple,” he said.
Construction on the 14 units is expected to begin later this year.
Anyone who needs housing assistance can contact the Maroochydore Housing Service Centre on 5352 7333 during business hours or call the 24/7 Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753. Women and their children who are at risk or experiencing domestic and family violence can call the 24/7 DVConnect Women’s Line on 1800 811 811.
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