Homeless Mother of Seven Denied Social Housing Amidst Outdated Eligibility Criteria
Rissa Blakely, a mother of seven, is currently experiencing homelessness with her children in Petrie, north of Brisbane. The family has been without stable housing for four months, relying heavily on charitable organizations for support. Ms. Blakely has voiced significant concerns for her children's safety while residing in a homeless camp. Her children range in age from five to 16 years old.
Social Housing Application Denied
Despite their urgent situation, Ms. Blakely was denied social housing assistance. Her income, derived solely from Centrelink payments, was deemed to exceed the eligibility criteria. She explained that parenting payments for six of her children placed her above the specified income threshold. The Department of Housing reportedly requested Ms. Blakely to provide evidence of her inability to secure private housing.
Outdated Thresholds Spark Advocacy Calls
In Queensland, a single individual with three or more children must have a weekly income below $999, inclusive of Centrelink payments, to qualify for social housing. Ms. Blakely highlighted the severe constraints this threshold imposes, stating:
"Meeting this threshold would require her family's income to be less than $18 per person per day, an amount she described as insufficient for survival."
Aimee McVeigh, CEO of the Queensland Council of Social Service, strongly criticized the current system. Ms. McVeigh noted that social housing income thresholds have remained unchanged since 2006, despite significant inflation increases over the same period. She argued that this stagnation has led to an increased number of homeless families being denied social housing and emphasized the urgent need to review eligibility criteria to ensure access for low-income individuals.
Government Response: Blame and Future Promises
Queensland Housing Minister Sam O'Connor did not confirm whether the social housing income thresholds would be increased. He attributed the current social housing shortage to the previous government, stating that the former Labor government delivered an average of only 509 social homes annually. Minister O'Connor also claimed that a CFMEU tax implemented by the previous administration impacted construction productivity, resulting in a loss of 77,000 homes since 2018.
Minister O'Connor added that the current Crisafulli government is undertaking a social and community housing build program with 5,970 homes currently under construction. He indicated that threshold changes could not be considered until the housing system improved.
A spokesperson for the Department of Housing and Public Works declined to comment on Ms. Blakely's specific case, citing privacy laws. The spokesperson clarified that social housing applications are assessed based on individual needs and circumstances, including income, to prioritize vulnerable Queenslanders for housing support.