Greater Whitsunday Communities can fill them for you!
The Greater Whitsunday Housing Alliance has rallied residents to step up and fill a gaping accommodation hole by renting their spare bedrooms to teachers hoping to live and work in the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday regions.
Greater Whitsunday Communities (GWC) Chief Executive Carol Norris said the Housing Alliance, operated by GWC, was appealing to individuals, families and community members linked to the region’s schools and care organisations, with a room or granny flat to spare to take in a lodger.
Mrs Norris said the critical shortage in affordable rental accommodations throughout the region was making it almost impossible for teaching, care and support staff arriving in the region to find a place to call home.
“We have some dedicated and highly skilled people coming to our region through December this year and then early next year to work in our education and care sectors and they have nowhere to live,” Mrs Norris said.
“It’s not good enough. This is a gap that has not been filled by the State Government, so we are hoping that under a new government, we will see something actioned to better support the housing needs of these vital workers coming to our region.”
Mrs Norris said the number of rental properties available throughout the Greater Whitsunday region had dropped by about 40 per cent in the last 24 months.
She said this, coupled with the slow pace of new houses being built, was making it extremely challenging for people moving to the region for work to find accommodation. However, she said Greater Whitsunday Housing Playbook showed there were many people in the region with spare bedrooms.
“With this in mind, the quickest way we can help employers bringing new staff to the region is to encourage people to consider taking in a lodger, Mrs Norris said.
“Already, GWC is helping care organisations to house some of their nurses and carers with women over 55 years of age being assisted to sustain their tenancies as their rents continue to rise.
“This is vital to enable care organisations to grow and deliver services in our community.”
Mrs Norris said the Greater Whitsunday Housing Alliance had reported most schools in the region had been asking the parents of their students to help house teachers.
“School principals and teachers are taking to Facebook to find lodgings for newcomers.”
Mrs Norris cited a Facebook post from Sian Burrows at Northern Beaches State High School, which stated: “We attract quality teachers to Mackay and our school, but availability of accommodation means that they then cannot find somewhere to live (and can’t come!).”
She said the problem was further compounded by the fact many existing teachers in the region had not been able to find accommodation.
“Some of our regions’ existing teachers cannot find somewhere to live because their landlords have sold their home to owner-occupiers,” she said.
“Teachers are forced to move out and then they cannot find anywhere else to live.
“If schools cannot attract and retain teachers it affects the stability and consistency of tutelage and quality of education our children receive.
“Similarly, If carers cannot attract and retain nurses and carers it affects the quality of care our elders and disabled in the community receive.
“This lack of affordable housing is having an impact on the levels of service available in our region and peoples’ willingness to live here and visit.”
Anyone with spare rooms or a granny flat, who are willing to consider taking in a lodger, should contact Greater Whitsunday Communities, via tonia@gwcommunities.org.au