Gold Coast Builds 600 Homes to End Rough Sleeping Crisis

When Bethany Turner lost her fashion boutique after the pandemic, she never imagined she'd be sleeping in parks eight months later. The 40-year-old former Mermaid Beach business owner now carries a safety alarm and moves between Gold Coast parks, joining an estimated 400 people sleeping rough in the city.

Her story highlights a challenge facing communities across Australia, but it's also sparked a massive response. Queensland's Housing Minister Sam O'Connor announced the state is "throwing everything" at the crisis with $5.6 billion invested in new homes.

On the Gold Coast alone, 600 social and affordable homes are either under construction or contracted to start soon. Daily outreach teams visit people sleeping rough, offering immediate housing assistance and connecting them with support services.

Turner applied for social housing but faces a six-year wait, a timeline the government aims to shrink dramatically. She continues picking up odd jobs and working with case managers while staying hopeful about her future.

The Gold Coast Homelessness Network acknowledges the visibility of rough sleeping has increased, but attributes this partly to people being more frequently moved between locations. About 400 people currently sleep rough across the city, a number that has remained steady even as awareness grows.

The Bright Side

While Turner's immediate situation remains challenging, the response to her story shows how personal accounts can drive real action. The state's multi-billion dollar investment specifically targets vulnerable people like her, with construction already underway rather than just planned.

Mayor Tom Tate confirmed the council works closely with state housing teams and police to ensure people are connected with services. The focus has shifted from just moving people along to actually building the homes they need.

Turner welcomes the investment and continues working with her "amazing case managers" who support her daily. She maintains dignity and hope despite her circumstances, keeping her belongings neat and staying respectful of public spaces.

The 600 homes represent real roofs over real heads, transforming what was once a six-year wait into tangible progress families and individuals can see rising from the ground.