Brisbane housing crisis as 50 homeless people moved from Musgrave Park amid Pinkenba facility pledge

Homeless people living in tents in a city park have been evicted to make way for a two-day cultural festival.

Up to 50 people living in Brisbane’s Musgrave Park have been moved into temporary accommodation by homeless services to help an upcoming Paniyiri Greek Festival go ahead.

The festival is expected to last two days on May 20 and May 21, with reports that people have already moved out of the area on Thursday and Friday.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy said the Queensland government was doing its best to ensure that people experiencing homelessness were supported.

More people are forced to live on the streets and in their cars amid the state’s worsening housing crisis (pictured, tents set up in Musgrave Park)

“We have activated a dedicated Housing Pathways team working with key stakeholders to support people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Brisbane Local Government area, including Musgrave Park,” she said. The courier mail.

“Alternative housing options have been identified and available, including additional accommodation in boarding houses and locally funded specialist homelessness services.”

Those who continue to live in Musgrave Park will receive free entry into and outside the event, said organizing committee co-chair Chris Kazonis.

“There will be a fence around the people who live in the park,” he added.

“They can walk right out, just like on the street.”

The Paniyiri Greek Festival (pictured) will run for two days on May 20 and 21, with Chris Kazonis, co-chair of the organizing committee, promising free entry to anyone still living in the park

“It just means to go through the park, they will have to go through the main entrances that they have free access to.”

The move comes as the state’s housing crisis is rapidly worsening, leaving more people sleeping on the streets and in cars.

Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner pledged $1 million over his budget on Saturday to convert the never-used Pinkenba Covid quarantine facility into emergency housing.

“Today, I’m pledging $1 million to upgrade Pinkenba’s quarantine facility so it can be used as an emergency shelter,” Schrinner said.

“That’s a million more reasons for the state government to finally get behind this proposal.”

Brisbane Mayor Adrian Schrinner will pledge $1 million on Saturday to convert unused Pinkenba Covid quarantine facility (pictured) into emergency housing

Mr Schrinner (pictured) said the pledge gives ‘a million more reasons for the state government to finally get behind this proposal’

“I know this facility wasn’t specifically built for crisis housing,” he said, “but it’s a lot better than living in a car or tent.”

“And that’s happening all over Brisbane right now, while this 500-bed facility is at a standstill.”

The $1 million allocated would go towards creating amenities such as laundry facilities in Pinkenba, as well as Brisbane City Council transport and library services.

However, state and federal governments remain unenthusiastic about the proposal, with a Queensland government spokeswoman saying she would support using the facility for a “specific cohort of people” if there was a practical, cost-effective way to do so with the aid. to do. from non-governmental service providers.

“We are facilitating conversations between community and housing groups, governments and the Brisbane City Council,” the spokeswoman said The courier mail.

“Community service providers who have visited the facility have consistently expressed concerns that it is not suitable for people requiring intensive support or with complex needs and is not suitable for families.”