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Media Releases My electorate office distributes information which is important to the Southport electorate in particular, and the Gold Coast in general. This information goes to the print and electronic media, however due to space or time constraints it doesn’t always get printed or broadcast. Through my website however, you can access all news stories which emanate from my office and thus keep up-to-date with State Government issues relating to Southport.
$3 Million to Help St Vincent De Paul House Gold Coast Homeless |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Oct 16 2007 |
| Media Releases >> |
Gold Coast families at risk of homelessness will be helped through a massive $3 million Queensland Government grant to St Vincent de Paul to build more crisis accommodation in the area.
Minister for Housing, Robert Schwarten, said that local Gold Coast members Peter Lawlor, Peta Kaye-Croft, and Di Reilly had lobbied hard for the funding to help those struggling in their electorate.
Member for Southport Peter Lawlor said this was a very good result as the capital funding would enable the construction of 19 more units of crisis accommodation.
"The funding will build the second stage of St Vincent de Paul's development project at Allied Drive.
"There will be 18 two-bedroom units in townhouse configuration that will cater for homeless families or families at risk of homelessness, and a unit for a caretaker," Mr Lawlor said.
"St Vincent de Paul is aiming to have the units open in 2009."
Member for Mudgeeraba Di Reilly said the townhouse complex would be built along side another project of St Vincent de Paul.
"Stage one of the St Vincent de Paul development comprises eight independent units which can house up to five people each and a two-storey community service delivery and administration centre," Ms Reilly said.
"What we are creating here is an excellent example of a planned and coordinated approach to help at-risk families on the Gold Coast."
Member for Broadbeach Ms Croft said the development represented a partnership between St Vincent de Paul, State Government and local council.
"The Gold Coast City Council has made the land available, St Vincent's is funding the first stage of the development, the Department of Housing is funding the second stage," Ms Croft said.
"The Department of Communities has also undertaken to help fund some of the services provided at the facility."
Ms Reilly said the Gold Coast was continuing to experience rapid growth, which was placing stress on families who could not afford increasing rents in the private market.
She said the median rent for a three bedroom unit on the coast had increased $110 per week, or 66.7%, in the past five years from $165 to $275 per week.
"That's why it's important the Department of Housing continue to support organisations like St Vincent's which are providing emergency accommodation to those in crisis.
"At the same time Commonwealth Rent Assistance has only gone up around $7 per week.
"The Howard government has really let low income earners down, and this is putting great pressure on our crisis services," Ms Reilly said.
Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 10:50 AM
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