Queensland social housing queue falls to 44,000 as officials cite active management
Queensland's social housing waiting list dropped to 44,294 in July, down from a peak of over 59,000, with the government attributing the decline to tighter list management and new homes becoming available.
July figures indicate that 44,294 Queenslanders are on the social housing waitlist, a decline from 48,539 in October 2024 and the 59,000-plus peak reached in November 2025. Housing Minister Sam O'Connor credited the reduction to a more actively managed register and the rollout of new homes, noting the list is over 20% lower than its highest point. QShelter chief executive Fiona Caniglia highlighted that the eligibility threshold excludes many struggling renters, coining the term "missing middle" for those caught between social housing and the private market.
She urged the government to set clear goals for both supportive housing for vulnerable groups and affordable rental options located near jobs and services. While Premier David Crisafulli’s LNP platform promised extensive housing delivery, O'Connor declined to set a specific waitlist reduction target, citing the premier’s broader aim of 53,500 social and community homes by 2044 as the guiding metric.
Why it matters
The shift in Queensland's housing waitlist reflects policy effectiveness and underscores ongoing gaps for low-income renters.
In this story
