AMID a national housing crisis that has sparked fears of intergenerational damage, people have turned to the government for a quick fix.
In Queensland the responsibility for affordable housing rests on the shoulders of Leeanne Enoch, the minister for housing and member for Algester in the Queensland Legislative Assembly.
The weight of Ms Enoch’s responsibility as a minister has been exacerbated by the rising cost of living, and although inflation and the price of petrol are beyond her control, housing is within her influence.
But to separate work life and personal life may be her greatest challenge.
Mrs Enoch said homelessness and the affordable housing crisis keeps her awake at night.
“One of the things that keeps me awake at night is the impact on families who are experiencing the housing pressures we’re seeing in Queensland and other parts of the country,” Ms Enoch said.
But she said the only way to combat these fears was to enact change.
“Following the housing summit last year we increased funding for after-hours outreach support and provided increased funding for homelessness services across the state,” she said.
In a world where everyone thinks they know better; Ms Enoch still appreciated the advice she got from friends and family.
“Family and friends frequently offer me advice, guidance and share their ideas on housing solutions,” she said.
“I also speak with Queenslanders every day who have their own ideas about how to tackle the housing pressures we’re facing.”
Ms Enoch said her constituents were understanding and recognised “the unprecedented challenges we’re facing right now cannot be solved entirely by government alone.”
In 2015, Ms Enoch became the first Indigenous Australian women in the Queensland parliament.
“I am also proud to have overseen the establishment of a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing peak body to help drive better housing outcomes for First Nations people,” she said.
In addition to her identity as First Nations Australian, Ms Enoch is also a mother.
Ms Enoch has led the development of a youth foyer in Logan to provide young people aged 16-25 with safe and stable housing.
There is also one on the Gold Coast and one being built in Townsville.
Ms Enoch’s focus extends to women aged 55 and older, who she said were a “highly vulnerable demographic”.
“We’ve earmarked almost $14 million for a Housing Older Women Strategy, including a new support hub,” she said.
She intends on reaching all aspects of the community, fighting homelessness, enhancing rent and accommodation accessibility and providing more emergency relief for impacted families.
Facing these battles head on is what Ms Enoch is most proud of.
She said she valued communities “unifying to work through solutions” together.
