PRESS RELEASE: Q Shelter launches Go for Gold report into Olympic legacy for housing

FOR Release
Go for Gold in legacy for Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Full copy of Go for Gold report at this link:
https://thedeck.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Go-for-Gold-Legacy-Report-Q-Shelter.pdf

‘Brisbane 2032 could set a new standard in legacy for social and economic opportunities’ says housing and homelessness peak body Q Shelter.

‘Our report examines legacy benefits and while there are good examples of legacy in areas such as housing and economic participation, Brisbane could set a new international benchmark for how to ensure a legacy for all’ says Executive Director Fiona Caniglia.

A report commissioned by Q Shelter was released today, detailing an economic and social legacy framework for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, focused on leaving behind a world best in social inclusion legacy.

Developed with Urbis, the report was launched today to assist the State Government in its detailed planning for legacy in areas such as housing, homelessness, and economic participation. It has been delivered to all parliamentarians, SEQ Mayors and key stakeholders in governance of the Games.

The report warns that large scale events like the Games will cause displacement of existing populations without early interventions to prevent rising rental costs and ensure adequate housing supply.

‘We are starting at a disadvantage because there is not enough housing supply to meet population needs’ says Executive Director Fiona Caniglia.

‘We urgently need to ensure that early planning for legacy is focused on the toughest yet most important issues – to ensure Queenslanders have a home and ensure that residents are not displaced’.

‘We call for intensive additional resources to actively work with people experiencing homelessness now to ensure they can find and keep a home. We also call for scaling up housing supply now in addition to ensuring that there is a housing legacy from the Games’ village. It will not be enough to wait for the Games to see only a small amount of housing convert to social and affordable housing.’

The report calls for new, community wide measures such as the establishment of a housing trust to fund social and affordable housing well into the future. The report also details opportunities to see procurement processes target social enterprises and ensure employment and training opportunities for people who are marginalised in the employment market.

The report details case studies of previous international sports’ events, which enjoyed economic returns, yet saw negative impacts on vulnerable communities, such as mass rental evictions and re-locations.

Q Shelter Executive Director Fiona Caniglia says, “Historically, Olympic and Paralympic Games have promoted social and affordable housing legacy opportunities but have rarely delivered enough in these areas. If we start planning and acting now, Brisbane 2032 has an opportunity to be the most successful Games of all time, leaving behind a legacy for all.

“Careful and early planning is needed, with all levels of Government and other key partners, to make sure this is a Games of which we can all be proud and that delivers a social inclusion legacy that protects and benefits people who are often left out’.

‘We must do everything to avoid crisis responses immediately before and during the Games. It will not be enough to temporarily move homeless people into insecure accommodation at the time. ‘

The comprehensive report details implementation opportunities, such as:

• clear social and affordable housing targets in key locations, including targets for the conversion of athletes’ village accommodation to social and affordable housing
• developing measures to assist people to exit homelessness well-before Brisbane 2032 and prevent more people from becoming homeless
• creating a lead agency for whole-of-housing system responses in Queensland with responsibility for coordinating all contributions across the levels of Government
• monitoring and responding to housing market changes leading up to, during and after Brisbane 2032, in impacted regions
• ensuring Brisbane 2032 achieves increased employment outcomes for people who are unemployed or under-employed
• reporting on progress against housing targets to achieve real-time improvements
• Establishment of a housing trust to capture community-wide contributions to social and affordable housing in perpetuity

Q Shelter welcomes the opportunity to work with the Queensland State Government, the Commonwealth Government, the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games organising committee, the Legacy Committee, and other key partners, to further develop the report’s recommendations.

Media opportunities for comment by Q Shelter Executive Director, Fiona Caniglia.
Q Shelter Media Contact: Michelle Saftich – Phone 0407 074 645