
Hyperlocal news outlets give communities back their voice
Posted on 13 Jun 2025
Local news initiatives are winning the loyalty of the grateful communities they serve, but they…
Posted on 03 Jun 2025
By Greg Thom, journalist, Institute of Community Directors Australia
Construction will begin in Queensland this week on a social and affordable housing project that's a first of its kind.
A sod turning ceremony will be held at Nerang on the Gold Coast to mark the start of Vinnies Queensland’s 500 Homes project.
The joint initiative with the Queensland government aims to build 562 homes to provide vulnerable Queenslanders with access to secure housing and support services to help break the cycle of homelessness.
There are an estimated 47,000 Queenslanders on the state’s social housing waiting list.
Advocates of the 500 Homes project hope it will set a new benchmark for how governments and community organisations can work together to solve homelessness through long-term, sustainable solutions.
The Queensland Minister for Housing and Public Works, Sam O’Connor was scheduled to join Vinnies Queensland CEO Kevin Mercer and Vinnies Housing CEO, Sharon Shearsmith for Thursday's symbolic project kick-off.
The Vinnies initiative comes as a Mission Australia housing project to provide 185 units for social and affordable housing is underway in the Queensland city of Toowoomba.
The project will include four apartment buildings of up to six-stories comprising 89 social housing dwellings and 96 affordable homes.
Mission Australia housing executive Chris Bratchford said the development would provide much-needed homes in Queensland.
“The social and affordable homes that will be built here will provide members of the community in need with a safe and stable place to sleep at night and the support they need to thrive,” he said.
"These homes, once constructed, will be accessible for older people and people and families on lower incomes or who are at risk of homelessness.
"We are pleased to be able to continue our partnership with the Queensland Government to provide housing opportunities that will assist people to access and experience safe, supported and secure housing.”
Minister O’Connor said partnerships with registered community housing providers, such as Mission Australia, were crucial to delivering more homes, faster, for people in need.
“Right now, we are working with more than 30 community housing providers and their partners, including councils, specialist homelessness services and key support services to deliver thousands of social and affordable homes across the state,” O’Connor said.
“There’s a lot more capacity to unlock, so we’re reforming our housing delivery model to empower this sector.”
“We must urgently scale up social and affordable rental housing, so that everyone, no matter their income, has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home.”
Tackling the nation’s housing and rental affordability crisis was high up on the election wish lists of sector organisations such as Mission Australia, Anglicare, Homelessness Australia and St Vincent de Paul.
ACOSS called for a bolder national strategy to tackle the housing crisis, including reform of tax settings that currently fuel speculative property investment.
“Instead of tinkering with people’s tax returns, we need proper tax reform that includes curbing negative gearing and capital gains tax concessions that drive up home prices and inequality,” it said in a statement.
“We must urgently scale up social and affordable rental housing, so that everyone, no matter their income, has access to a safe, secure, and affordable home.”
Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister urged all political parties to prioritise investment in safe, affordable housing, and specifically to:
“Our homelessness services have seen a 19 per cent increase in demand in the past year, and our staff are facing unprecedented challenges securing accommodation due to a shortage of housing that’s affordable for the people we serve,” said Callister.
“Preventative measures and early intervention benefit not only people in need but are also the most cost effective and responsible approach.”
Politicians respond to sector calls to tackle housing crisis
Posted on 13 Jun 2025
Local news initiatives are winning the loyalty of the grateful communities they serve, but they…
Posted on 13 Jun 2025
Not-for-profits (NFPs) are under so much financial pressure, many are considering merging with…
Posted on 12 Jun 2025
Not-for-profits and charities can now access free one-on-one tech advice to help them identify how…
Posted on 12 Jun 2025
One in four Australians say they frequently ran out of food before they could afford to buy more…
Posted on 11 Jun 2025
The federal government has opened consultation on proposed reforms to public and private ancillary…
Posted on 10 Jun 2025
Australia’s army of first responder’s routinely put their lives on the line to protect the…
Posted on 10 Jun 2025
As many as one in five older people are unwilling to seek help if they are mistreated by a family…
Posted on 10 Jun 2025
Almost four in 10 Australians believe limiting their own carbon footprint is “very or extremely…
Posted on 10 Jun 2025
A new cyber resilience program designed to train Australian not-for-profit sector workers to better…
Posted on 10 Jun 2025
While an overwhelming 97 per cent of Australia’s top 100 companies report on their social impact,…
Posted on 09 Jun 2025
There are more than 60,000 charities in Australia, but they are far from equal, writes Margaret…
Posted on 08 Jun 2025
A teenage charity founder and a 101-year-old military veteran with a passion for tennis were among…