Not for profit real estate agencies ready to step up in response to flood crisis
Not-for-profit real estate agencies ready to step up in response to flood crisis
As the Queensland rental market tightens and homelessness soars, Queensland’s emerging not-for-profit real estate sector is ready to help.
Andrew Elvin from Coast2Bay Housing Group says, ‘We know more properties are needed in the rental market to meet community needs. We operate Purpose Real Estate from Caboolture to Gympie offering full property and tenancy management services. The key difference is that all our profit goes to building more housing for people doing it tough’.
Peak body Q Shelter is working with the REIQ to encourage property owners to bring any empty properties or short-term rentals into the long term rental market. ‘It was hard before the floods with vacancy rates below 1% in most population centres. Now the situation is critical,’ says Executive Director Fiona Caniglia.
Mangrove Housing CEO Teresa Reed says the situation is getting worse. ‘People who have never been homeless before are facing a crisis. Without a home, people can’t recover, work or participate in education’. Mangrove operates throughout Redlands and to the south in areas such as Beenleigh. ‘We are expert property and tenancy managers offering our services to all property owners who want to have a real impact in the community.’
Elevate Residential also offers full real estate services across Brisbane and is part of BHC, a significant provider of affordable housing in Queensland. BHC CEO Rebecca Oelkers says “Elevate is a social purpose real estate agency, led by experienced real estate professionals. All profits support BHC’s provision of affordable homes and supportive housing services for families in housing need across Brisbane.
These not-for-profit organisations offer a range of supportive services to people they house and are fully regulated organisations achieving high standards of service delivery. ‘Any landlord or property owners who want to help flood victims and wants to have a positive impact in the community should contact Q Shelter on 3831 5900 for more information.
Real Estate professionals throughout Queensland as members of REIQ are also ready to help. ‘Even if you aren’t sure whether you have a suitable property, real estate professionals can help you appraise a property and bring it into the market to help someone who is searching for their next home,’ says Fiona Caniglia from Q Shelter.
We already know the community cares and is helping. This is one more way that people can make a difference. ‘We want to see people talking in their communities and families about whether they can help. We need to work together to prevent people living though more trauma because they can’t find a home’ says Fiona Caniglia.
