Minister ‘abandons emergency housing’

PROPERTY

The state Minister for Community Services and Housing has been accused of turning her back on the men, women and children across Queensland who are forced to sleep rough because a lack of emergency housing.
LNP Housing spokeswoman Rosemary Menkens said she was disgusted by the minister’s answer to a parliamentary question about the number of people on emergency housing waiting lists.
“As the minister responsible for social housing, you would think that Ms Struthers would be interested in the number of adults and children sleeping under bridges, in cars and in parks because they cannot access emergency housing.
“But the minister has just wiped her hands of this growing problem stating ‘the Department of Communities does not manage emergency housing waiting lists’.
“This minister has approved $78.5 million in funding for non-government organisations to manage emergency housing waiting lists — but she has no idea how many people requires these services or how many people are being helped.
“People seeking emergency housing are usually in dire need – many are women and children escaping domestic violence and situations which place them in real danger.
“Without adequate emergency housing these families can be forced into worse situations that place their children and their own lives at risk.
“The Minister’s pitiful response suggests that not only is she out of touch with the needs of people who are living in social housing, she simply does not care for those who do not have a roof over their heads.”