More than 3000 people are in a queue for social housing in Logan, and the majority of these applicants are single adults.
There are 3,149 applications on the social housing register with a Logan suburb listed as one of their preferences, as of 31 July 2023.
Of these, more than 2000 people have a Logan suburb as their first preference.
“Importantly, many of the applicants on the housing register have already been assisted to address their immediate housing needs,” a spokesperson for the Department of Housing said.
“The applications are most commonly from single adults – over the years, the make-up of households needing housing assistance has changed.”
The spokesperson said social housing was “traditionally built” as family homes, but now the greatest demand across Logan (and the rest of the state) is from smaller households looking for one or two-bedroom homes.
“This trend is expected to continue, and many of the new social homes we are building and buying are one or two-bedrooms to match this need,” the spokesperson said.
Data lead Jessica Wong from the Logan Advance to Zero campaign (also known as Logan Zero) which aims to improve the effectiveness of the homelessness system and reduce homelessness in Logan, said Logan Zero data also revealed an increase in single adults in need.
“Logan Zero has noted an increase in single people being identified as homeless in Logan on our Know by Name List,” Ms Wong said.
“Over the past year we have registered 392 individuals as homeless in Logan, including 89 people under 25.
“There were also 294 family households added to our Know by Name List.
“Individuals that we know of in Logan who are homeless are roughly evenly divided by gender.
“At the time we surveyed them, 63 per cent were rough sleeping for example in their cars.
“We have more detailed information about 120 individuals who are homeless, and this shows that more than 70 per cent have high support needs.”
Ms Wong said individuals Logan Zero surveyed had spent more than two years homeless on average.
There was one man she said had lived “on and off the streets” for 33 years.
“Our data demonstrates that Logan needs supportive housing options for single people with significant health needs,” she said.
The spokesperson for the Department of Housing said allocations to social housing were determined by the individual needs of applicants.
“Taking into account the person or family’s circumstances, their wellbeing, financial status and their ability to independently sustain a tenancy,” the spokesperson said.
“Through this process, the department prioritises the most vulnerable Queenslanders to support them into safe and stable housing.”
The state government’s latest housing plan, along with Logan City Council’s, seems to address this need, with both plans prioritising the development of townhouses, units and apartments.
The state government’s plan has also set a target to make 20 per cent of the region’s housing social and affordable.
