MEDIA RELEASE
Common Ground Gold Coast Commend Queensland Government for New Supportive Housing Opportunities on the Gold Coast
Common Ground Gold Coast congratulates the Queensland Government, Acting Premier Steven Miles and Minister for Housing Meaghan Scanlon on their announcement this morning and commitment to develop “West Tower”, a 150- unit, supportive housing development at Southport.
Common Ground Gold Coast, along with the support of the Gold Coast community have been advocating for supportive housing on the Gold Coast for the last 2 years to support the increasing numbers of people who are experiencing chronic homelessness. In Queensland, the average number of people accessing homelessness services has increased by 15% in the four years leading up to 2022. The Common Ground model of supportive housing integrates permanent, safe and affordable accommodation with ongoing support services, to enable people to address the challenges they
experience that contribute to their homelessness.
Common Ground Gold Coast are delighted to see this announcement, as not only will it go a long way to addressing the needs of people experiencing chronic homelessness but will also result in savings to the Queensland Government through reduced access to state funded services such as emergency departments, acute mental health admissions and police and ambulance attendances.
Common Ground Gold Coast is a subsidiary of Common Ground Queensland, which has successfully delivered Queensland’s first purpose built, supportive housing program, Brisbane Common Ground in South Brisbane, for the last 11 years.
Supportive housing is a ‘Housing First’ approach, which believes that people experiencing homelessness need housing first before they can address the challenges in their life that might have led to their homelessness.
Common Ground Gold Coast CEO, Sue Pope, said that she was extremely grateful for the support from the City of Gold Coast, Gold Coast business, the wider Gold Coast community and Queensland Government.
“The support from the entire Gold Coast community for a supportive housing/Common Ground model has been incredible, and we are so excited that the Queensland Government also recognises these benefits and has committed to develop the model in Southport.”
ENDS
For more information or media enquiries, please contact:
Sue Pope
CEO, Common Ground Queensland
Tel: 0408 438 624
Email: sue.pope@cgq.org.au
