QCOSS leads the Town of Nowhere campaign advocating for change to end the housing crisis in Queensland and is a partner of the national Everybody’s Home campaign. In March 2023, QCOSS, Tenants Queensland and The Services Union, along with the Town of Nowhere campaign partners, commissioned the report ‘A blueprint to tackle Queensland’s housing crisis’ (The Pawson Report), which clearly outlines the unprecedented housing crisis in Queensland.

QCOSS welcomes the Inquiry and supports the goals of considering the appropriateness of residential services as defined under the Residential Services (Accreditation) Act 2002 and other shared living arrangements.
Our position has been informed from consultations with QCOSS member organisations who provide support to people living in supported accommodation. This consultation included convening a QCOSS Human Rights Network (‘the Network’) in January 2023, which collated feedback specifically in relation to the Inquiry.

At the Network, when participants were asked to select what they thought were the most important changes for improving supported accommodation. The top five changes were:
• Review and update legislation using a human rights, person-centred approach to strengthen the rights of people who live in supported accommodation
• Implementing minimum quality standards for accommodation and support services
• Fund independent case managers for people living in supported accommodation
• Invest in mental health services to improve psychosocial support available for people living in supported accommodation
• Establish a comprehensive assessment and planning process to understand people’s goals and support needs.

The current model of supported accommodation falls short of providing accommodation and support that protect people’s rights and to provide safe, secure, affordable accommodation and support that fosters wellbeing.
Systemic change through both legislative and service delivery reform is required to ensure people living in supported accommodation have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing that respects people’s rights and is appropriate for people’s needs. Significant government investment is required to ensure people have access to person-centred wellbeing supports that meet people’s needs and supports achievement of goals.