A Queensland Audit Office (QAO) report has found the Queensland Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy’s processes for social housing were not effective.
The audit named the improvement of the department’s policies, procedures, and information systems as a priority, as the waitlist for the housing register grew by 78% over the past four years.
Amongst several findings, the Delivering social housing audit found information publicly available stated that there were different categories based on an applicant’s need but the department had not used those categories since 2019. All new applicants since then have been categorised as ‘high need’.
The report further found that assessments were not recorded consistently and the department did not forecast future trends such as the impact on social housing demand of the cost of living and rising rents.
As of March 2022, there were 74,133 social housing dwellings in the state, making up 3.4% of its housing market. The department has plans to build 6,365 new social housing by 2025; the report found this amount would not be able to keep up with the increase in demand.
In total, the report made eight recommendations, including the need for clear and proactive communication of what the assessment process is, periodic reviews of the eligibility of social housing applicants, and the modelling of future housing demands.
In a statement, Queensland minister for communities and housing Leeane Enoch said the government has accepted all recommendations from the report, with implementation already underway.
According to the government, the department has canvassed 98% of social housing households, finding 21% to be either ‘uncontactable, no longer eligible, or no longer requiring social housing’.
The minister, while welcoming the report’s findings, also highlighted how the current housing challenges in Queensland are impacted by external factors.
“We have a private rental market that is becoming more competitive, and Queenslanders are facing a growing challenge to access secure and affordable housing.
“This is compounded by pressure on the construction sector for both skilled trades and supplies, interstate migration, and the recent natural disasters,” Enoch said in a statement.
The report itself also acknowledged those challenges, calling for a ‘multi-faceted response from the government.
Queensland leader of the opposition and the Liberal National Party David Crisafulli said the findings of the report were a crisis ‘seven years in the making’.
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