Common Ground Statistics from Two Lives Launch Event

Brisbane Common Ground welcomed its first tenant in July just over a year ago we reached full tenancy in November.

Formerly Homeless (FH) Tenant Statistics

The average length of homelessness for our formerly homeless tenants at Brisbane Common Ground was 8.7 years. Many of them have had housing at certain stages but have been unable to sustain the tenancy. At Brisbane Common Ground, Micah Projects and Common Ground Qld work together to provide tenants with the information and skills to sustain their tenancy and access support. We have experienced some outstanding success in our first year:

48 FH Tenants have remained housed over 10 months, 25 of them over 12 months 94% of FH tenants have been housed over 6 months By November when we reach one full year of full tenancy we are on track to have 56 people who were previously living on the streets or sleeping rough having had a home for at least 12 months. International experience is that between 75 and 85% of people who access supportive housing and receive the supports and health services they need, are able to remain housed. We are on track to achieve these levels of success. We have also had 7 of our formerly homeless tenants reconnect with family or friends and leave Brisbane Common Ground to re-establish their homes with these people. Research suggests that people who have experienced chronic homelessness are likely to die 25 years earlier than those of us who have a home. Sadly in the past year we have had two formerly homeless tenants pass away. They were aged 27 and 42. Many years of living on the streets had determined their fate but they did not die on the streets they were afforded the dignity of dying in their home. It costs only $56 per day to provide a home & support services to a formerly homeless person at Brisbane Common Ground. National data reported in 08/09 costed crisis accommodation at $133 per day, for short term accommodation that is not a pathway out of homelessness.

Low Income Tenant Statistics

Part of our model is also designed to offer affordable housing to people who are earning low incomes and not easily able to access or afford well located housing often these tenants are at a high risk of becoming homeless. Having 50% of tenants from low income backgrounds is an integral part of our model to create a diverse building community.

33 of our low income tenants have lived at BCG for over one year and have resigned leases to stay on for another 12 months. Only 9 tenants have chosen to leave mainly due to needing a larger unit.

Whole of Building Statistics

Our tenants have also proved that they are reliable when it comes to meeting the financial obligations of their tenancy

80% of our tenants are 2 weeks in advance with their rent their utilities are paid in advance each fortnight Our arrears at the end of year one are .016% only $1600 Department of Housing staff recently conducted their first annual maintenance inspection and were amazed at how well maintained our common areas and our tenants units were. At the end of year one, we had only $1900 to be repaid for tenant damage.

These numbers are impressive when compared to private or social housing rentals and clearly demonstrate how much our tenants value having a home! Queensland Police Service have reported that they are pleased with the low levels of interaction they have had with tenants at Brisbane Common Ground. We have positive relationships with neighbours many of them who have joined us tonight. Together we proactively manage any community issues.