Brisbane student accommodation transforming into emergency housing amid rental crisis
Student accommodation at a Queensland university will soon be turned into emergency lodgings for those who need it amid the national housing crisis.
Griffith University and the state government have struck a deal to convert unused rooms into short-term residences for Queenslanders doing it tough.
The announcement comes after the Reserve Bank of Australia's ninth consecutive interest rate hike, which will see more people displaced and urgently needing somewhere to live.
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Student rooms are being refurbished to be suitable as emergency housing. (Supplied) Supplied
The rooms at Griffith University mean more people will have a roof over their heads when they need it most, according to Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles.
"This facility will provide a buffer for Queenslanders doing it tough in the current housing crisis before they can get back into the rental market," he said.
"The housing crisis has hit many Queenslanders who have never before found themselves homeless, and we are committed to turning this around."
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Accommodation will include small living spaces under current plans. (Supplied) Supplied
Australian families have recently been hit by the highest annual increase in the cost of living in two decades.
Households who have wages as their primary source of income had a 9.3 per cent increase in their cost of living over the last year, largely due to rising mortgages.
The government has committed to working across the private sector to house vulnerable residents sooner.
"Once complete, the complex will provide vital short-term housing for adults as they are supported into longer-term, more secure accommodation," Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said.
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New rooms are a short-term solution as residents seek more secure accommodation. (Supplied) Supplied
The plan is part of a $50 million commitment from the state government to get more residents into homes.
Griffith's Mount Gravatt student rooms will be refurbished to provide a small living and bed space for vulnerable adults, with shared bathroom and kitchen facilities.
Construction should be completed by midway through this year.
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