Jaki Rose's life took an unexpected turn when she transitioned from being a stay-at-home mom to being homeless and living out of her station wagon after her marriage ended in 2019. As a 58-year-old working chef, Jaki drives from one car park to another in Redcliffe, north of Brisbane, where she also parks at a local boat ramp to spend her nights.
Struggling to afford rent, Jaki's income exceeds the maximum threshold set by the Queensland government for social housing eligibility. Despite her employment and 25 hours of work per week, Jaki relies on charitable services for basic necessities like meals, showers, and laundry facilities that are primarily geared towards the unemployed. The income eligibility criteria for social housing in Queensland are deemed too restrictive by the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS), highlighting a broader issue in the state's housing sector.
While the government conducts a review on income thresholds for social housing, Jaki's situation sheds light on the larger housing crisis in Queensland, where individuals like her face challenges finding affordable accommodation. With waiting times for social housing properties averaging almost two-and-a-half years, the lack of affordable rental options further exacerbates the issue. Despite political promises to address the housing crisis, individuals like Jaki remain skeptical about the effectiveness of proposed solutions in providing immediate relief to those in need.