State Infrastructure Plan

Social housing
Social and supported housing is provided by the
Queensland Government and non-government
organisations to assist people who are unable to
secure and sustain accommodation in the private
market.
The government’s extensive portfolio of social housing
properties plays a critical role in this system. Tenants
receive housing assistance through government
owned and managed public housing properties, as
well as properties managed by community housing
organisations and local authorities, and assistance to
rent in the private market. This includes a significant
number of properties that provide dedicated housing
support to people living in remote Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander communities.
Meeting the overwhelming demand for social housing
and the changing needs of tenants poses a number
of challenges. Increasingly, properties must be able
to meet higher standards in terms of accessibility,
safety and flexibility, particularly for tenants with a
disability or complex needs. Housing should ideally
be located close to transport and community facilities
to provide tenants with access to support services and
employment opportunities.
The characteristics of households in high need have
changed over time, and the level of need is highest
for one and two bedroom accommodation. Much
of the existing portfolio is larger three and four
bedroom houses, many of which have long-term
tenancies. Redevelopment of existing properties or
the construction of new properties will be required to
meet the needs of tenants into the future. Due to the
age and scale of the social housing portfolio, there
is a considerable requirement for maintenance and
upgrades, which will require ongoing funding.
With the growing capacity of the community housing
sector, there are increasing opportunities to deliver
social housing in partnership with the non-government
sector. Other initiatives, such as bond loans and the
redirection of lower need households into affordable
New housing development
housing initiatives, may help reduce the overall cost of
service delivery by providing alternatives to the direct
provision of social housing.
Social housing rents are highly subsidised through the
state and Australian Government. The rental income
the state receives is insufficient to support large capital
works programs and cover the cost of operations,
including dwelling maintenance.
The Australian Government has initiated a process to
examine the reallocation of federal and state roles and
responsibilities in relation to housing assistance and
homelessness services. Future funding and service
provision arrangements for social housing will be
dependent on the outcome of this reform process.
In relation to residential dwellings for people with
disabilities and accommodation facilities for children
and young people, there are opportunities to align built
assets with future asset needs by developing upgrade
and maintenance programs that prolong the useful life
of these assets.
From 1 July 2016, funding and delivery of disability
services will undergo substantial change with the
introduction of the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS). This may impact on the delivery of
services and the capital portfolio.
SOCIAL HOUSING RESPONSES
The Queensland Government has developed responses to address identified challenges and guide investment across both the 1–4 year
program and future opportunities. Most projects or opportunities relate to at least one response, however some will relate to more than
one response. As the SIP matures, the relationship between responses and these programs will strengthen.
Realign the housing
portfolio to improve
its service capacity.
Renew the property
portfolio to align
with housing
needs and reduce
maintenance costs.
Leverage the
capacity of
non-government
organisations and
the private sector
in the delivery of
services.
106 State Infrastructure Plan Part B: Program