What We Do

Gateway Community Group Inc., trading as Gateway Housing, is a Specialist Homelessness Service that provides transitional supported accommodation to families.

Referrals are received from individuals, the government, and non-government agencies. Most are received through the Queensland Homelessness Information Platform (QHIP), a government database accessible to all homeless services in Queensland.

Applicants and their families’ details are recorded and stored in the Common Homelessness Assessment and Referral Tool (CHART) within QHIP. The information includes the reasons for the applicant’s current housing crisis.

Properties managed by Gateway Housing are in the inner southeast Brisbane suburbs of Carina, Murarrie, Tingalpa, Wynnum West and Alexandra Hills. When a property becomes available, it is listed on QHIP. Potential tenants are referred to the service via QHIP, or other supporting services, such as hospitals and directly from family members. From the referrals, the Gateway Housing staff meet with potential families. Families considered for the program are financially disadvantaged, currently homeless or at risk of becoming homeless without support intervention.

Service Information, such as how rent is calculated and what is involved with case management and expectations of a tenancy agreement, is explained to potential families.

Rent is based on the Community Housing Rent Policy (September 2013). Rent is assessed at 25% of the household’s assessable income. The Community Housing The Queensland Government provides the Rent Calculator (CHRC) to calculate the rent amount. Families who enter the Gateway Housing program identify goals they would like to achieve while in the service. The Housing Support Workers assist individuals and families in working on the identified goals. The worker’s key role is to assist the family in gaining long-term, sustainable housing.

The worker provides case management including:

• Advocacy
• Information
• Referral to specialist services, such as parenting programs, counselling, financial planning, substance and alcohol education programs
• Transport to essential appointments, and
• Support specific to the individual and family needs.

It is the organisation’s responsibility, as part of the funding agreement, to provide property management for the nine Department of Housing properties. This entails maintaining the tenanted properties in good repair, including arranging repairs and maintenance.

Quarterly property inspections are performed to ensure the properties are maintained in good condition. At the inspection, maintenance concerns can be raised and addressed, as necessary.

Gateway also provides Tenancy Management. The organisation uses the General Tenancy Agreement, provided by the Queensland Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA). Families remain in Gateway Housing-managed properties for the entire time they meet the terms of the agreement and until they secure a longer-term, affordable home.

Gateway Housing provides a Small Loans Program, usually limited to current tenants. The program was created to provide no-interest money loans for financially disadvantaged members of the community, including tenants. Individuals are encouraged to access the service instead of getting a high-interest loan or a Payday Loan.

Repayment Plans for tenants are available in some circumstances where property damage results from tenant damage. When the debt cannot be paid after repairs are complete, negotiation can occur so the tenant can pay for damages in instalments.