THE POPULATION growth in Hervey Bay does bring some challenges for society– in particular the shortage of housing. The Regional Australia Institute acknowledge the “decades-long underinvestment” in the supply of housing in their 2021 Inquiry into Housing Affordability and Supply report and still two years later, the problem is becoming a greater concern.

The report identifies the “regional population growth and dynamics are key factors driving demand for regional housing.”

Regional Housing is a not-for-profit company managing emergency, transitional and long term social housing as well as a range of complimentary support programs throughout the Central and Northern Queensland Regions.

Their aim is to reduce homelessness and assist the most vulnerable within our community to improve their lifestyle by providing quality, secure and affordable housing which empowers our customers.

The portfolio is made up of:

• Long Term Properties
• Transitional Housing Properties
• Crisis Accommodation Properties
• Adaptable or accessible housing

Their tenants include people with low-medium income, people with disabilities, aged, young people, indigenous, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, single people and large families.  All tenancies are managed in accordance with legislative requirements.

Each funded program delivered by Regional Housing has a specified target area for service delivery that includes Hervey Bay with centres such as Door42 Youth Centre.

General Manager of Support Services for Regional Housing, Simone Corey, says the centre has provided important accommodation for local youth with positive outcomes.

“It’s a very homely environment. We have a security system throughout the complex but we want people to feel comfortable”.

Simone discusses the importance of this being a crisis accommodation facility that works with the individuals to facilitate their steps back into community living”.

“They are the masters of their own journey. We have case managers that support their goals and needs with the aim they can move safely back into society”.

We have had youth that have transitioned back into their family environment which is fantastic. We have had other examples where they have gone straight to independent living”.