Queensland Disability Housing Coalition

A Home of Your Own

BRISBANE HOUSING COMPANY

The Brisbane Housing Company (BHC) is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that has been established to provide affordable housing for low-income earners in Brisbane. It is intended as an alternative model for providing social/affordable housing.

The BHC has been funded by the Queensland State Government and the Brisbane City Council. The Company plans to establish a financially self-sustaining property portfolio based on these initial grants.

The Company is overseen by an independent Board of Directors who have been elected by the State Government, Brisbane City Council and the Community Shareholders.

BHC’s Community Shareholders include community housing groups, financial institutions, church groups and organisations like the Property Council of Australia.

The Company has planned it’s property portfolio to initially include properties within a 7km radius of Brisbane’s CBD. The decision to concentrate on the 7km radius was prompted by the fact that extensive redevelopment has occurred in those inner and near city suburbs causing displacement of low income households. The type of accommodation to be offered will include boarding houses, studio apartments and one and two bedroom units.

The first property to be acquired by the BHC is located at Bowen Hills, an inner city suburb of Brisbane, and houses some 70 tenants. The complex comprises a boarding house and self contained apartments. The ground floor units include adaptable units suitable for tenants with a physical disability.

Homes will be offered to tenants at a proportion of market rent. The BHC has been structured in such a way as to maximise it’s tenants access to the Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

Initially BHC will take referrals from the Queensland Department of Housing’s public housing waitlist though this does not exclude other groups referring potential tenants to the Company.

To register interest in obtaining accommodation with the BHC, a person would have to register with the Department of Housing on the Public Housing waitlist.

For further information or to check if you are eligible contact your local Area Office.

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