Queensland Housing Strategy 2017– 2027

Through the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017–2027 (Housing Strategy), the Queensland Government is delivering more social and affordable homes for vulnerable Queenslanders and transforming housing and homelessness services across the state.

In June 2021, the Queensland Government launched the Queensland Housing and Homelessness Action Plan 2021-2025 (the Action Plan), which continues to build on the vision of the Housing Strategy with a focus on boosting housing supply, moving towards ending homelessness, supporting vulnerable people and securing a fair and accessible housing system.

QuickStarts Qld (QSQ) is a capital investment program to accelerate planned acquisition, new construction, and redevelopment opportunities to deliver new social homes sooner.

The original commencement target for QSQ was 2765 social homes by 30 June 2025. As part of the 2023-24 State Budget, an additional $322.2 million was provided boosting QSQ by an additional 500 homes, increasing the target to 3265 social housing commencements by 30 June 2025.

This increased QSQ target has been further elevated by an additional 600 social housing dwellings, made possible through $398.3 million provided by the Australian Government under the Social Housing Accelerator Payment (SHAP).

This means the Action Plan is now supported by record investment of over $5 billion to support better long-term housing outcomes and move more vulnerable Queenslanders into safe, secure and affordable housing.

Overview of QuickStarts Qld

QSQ is a whole of Queensland social housing capital program delivered through department-led projects and in partnership RCHPs, community organisations and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander councils. QSQ delivers housing supply through new construction, redevelopments, and purchase of existing dwellings, for eligible customers from the department’s Housing Register.

Under Round One of QSQ, the Request for Detailed Proposal released on 28 October 2021, received over 150 proposals from 42 proponents. Over 110 of these projects have been contracted to date, totalling 1300 new social homes being commenced.

With the success of the QSQ – Round One, the Department is seeking to procure more social housing supply through this RFDP for QSQ – Round Two.

QSQ – Round Two is a pathway for Proponents to submit new proposals for social housing in the Target Locations.

Under this process, Proponents can apply for capital grant funding to deliver new housing supply across Queensland. As with QSQ – Round One, no support or services funding is available through QSQ – Round Two.

Proponents can bring forward new supply proposals from across the State, however, the proposals within the target regions located in section 3.4 of this RFDP will be prioritised. Project which have the ability to accelerate construction commencement will also be prioritised.

Projects suitable for QSQ – Round Two are those which can be contracted with the State before 30 June 2025, and where construction can be accelerated to ensure project completion by 30 June 2027. If your proposal is not capable of meeting this delivery timeframe, it would not be suitable for QSQ – Round Two.

QuickStarts Qld – Round Two

Request for Detailed Proposal (RFDP) overview

The RFDP mandatory criteria includes:

The proponent is either:

• a RCHP, either under the National Regulatory System for Community Housing (NRSCH) or Queensland State Regulatory System for Community Housing (QSRSCH); or
• is in the process of obtaining registration under the NRSCH or the QSRSCH, and has an estimated date for registration from the Queensland Registrar; or
• is partnering with a RCHP (noting the department will only enter into new funding arrangements with a RCHP and this is subject to an acceptable contracting arrangement to the State).

The project must have a land site included or identified for new construction proposals and the proposal must demonstrate that the project can be contracted before 30 June 2025, be able to commence construction quickly and be delivered by 30 June 2027.

Projects must include off-the-plan or turnkey products currently under construction that can be contracted before 30 June 2025 and acquired quickly.

Each project must include social housing outcomes for eligible people from the department’s Housing Register, with any priority cohorts identified for department consideration.

Each project must include long term social housing outcomes for eligible customers from the department’s housing register.

Social housing must be commensurate to the level of State investment.

RFDPs will be submitted through the SmartyGrants website using the online form. The RFDP will close at 9.00am on Tuesday, 12 March 2024.

While the RFDP is open, proponents can ask questions through the QSQ website’s ‘Ask the team’ page https://yoursay.housing.qld.gov.au/qhigi-ask-the-team. A response will be provided in a timely manner and all questions and answers will be published on this website providing all proponents access to the same information. Commercial-in-confidence questions will be de-identified and generalised information provided so all proponents have access to the same information.

Further information about QSQ - Round Two and the RFDP can be found https://yoursay.housing.qld.gov.au/hub-page/queensland-housing-investment-growth-initiative