Please email the Ministers to show your support for the tenants’ staying in their homes. Either write your own email or there’s a template below you can use that an Aunt, Aunty Christine has drafted from Sunshine Coast Greens. I’ve reached the 100 tag limit but everyone please email the Ministers and share this post 👍🏾✊🏾✌🏾
Deputy Premier, Minister for Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Partnerships, Member for South Brisbane Hon. Jackie Trad, MP : deputy.premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Minister for Housing and Public Works, Member for Springbrook Hon. Mick de Brenni, MP – hpwdts@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Dear Ministers
RE: THE URGENT PURCHASE OF 37 HOMES FOR INDIGENOUS HOUSING IN TOOWOOMBA.
The purpose of this correspondence is to request your urgent attention in prioritising the provision of social housing for Indigenous tenants in Toowoomba, who are affected by the loss of long-term housing, after mortgage default of the Downs Housing Company.
Many of these long-term tenants are very elderly and have rented their homes for 40 years. Significantly, some tenants suffer from a range of permanent disabilities. There are families with young children and with vulnerable teenagers.
Over 100 people are currently experiencing considerable distress from the risk of homelessness.
The loss of secure housing and consequential homelessness, results in a multitude of social problems. This volatile situation is further compromised when Indigenous persons have limited access to the private rental market and are forced into the streets. State Government has a duty of care to ensure that basic facilities, such as housing, are available to all who need it. Especially, for the most vulnerable members of society: the Indigenous community.
Queensland is in a broken state if it fails to provide homes for every one of these tenants. That these families are faced with the stress of such dire circumstances as homelessness is appalling. But this need not be the case: their lives need not be severely disrupted.
The purchase of these homes by State Government will provide housing stability and restore normality of life and bring peace of mind for these tenants and their families. Therefore, I ask you to take full responsibility and ensure that State Government negotiates the purchase of these 37 homes in Toowoomba, before they go to auction on 2 February 2019.