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Housing and homelessness support

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Find resources for homelessness support in Brisbane. Learn about the services available and our Homeless Connect event.

Homelessness can affect anyone and can be temporary or long-term.

If you or someone you know is currently experiencing or at risk of homelessness, we have events, resources and partnerships that can help.

Support for people who are homeless

Homeless Connect 

Homeless Connect is a one-day event which provides free services to people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

We organise the event with support from local schools, businesses and volunteers.

What services are available during the event?

Free services include:

  • access to medical and allied health care professionals, including doctors, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, audiologists and massage therapists

  • haircuts 

  • support for housing, employment and community services

  • immunisation services  

  • personal grooming items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo and deodorant

  • clothing

  • non-perishable food items

  • breakfast, lunch and live entertainment. 

Next event

The next Homeless Connect event will be held on Friday 7 November 2025 at Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills (corner of Alexandria Street and Gregory Terrace).

You can register your interest to volunteer for the next event by visiting the Volunteering Queensland website.

Download the document to find more information about the next Homeless Connect event, including free return bus services.

Past events 

We’ve held 30 Homeless Connect events since the first in 2006. The project has helped more than 23,200 people. Our last event was held on Thursday 19 June 2025.

This event had:

882

guests

430

volunteers

591

health checks

4,574

visits to 60 service providers 

41

pallets of clothes, shoes, food and toiletries donated.

Public Space Liaison Officers

Public Space Liaison Officers (PSLOs) are the first point of contact between Council and people experiencing homelessness.

Our PSLOs work with Queensland Government's Department of Housing and Public Works and non-government organisations to support people who are homeless.

If you need support, call Council on 07 3403 8888 and ask to speak with the Safe Communities team.

You can also contact Council by:

  • using the National Relay Service
  • Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450  and asking to speak with Brisbane City Council on 07 3403 8888. 

Brisbane Housing Company  

Brisbane Housing Company (BHC) is a not-for-profit organisation that provides affordable rental accommodation for people on low incomes.

BHC has assisted more than 7,000 households to access and maintain tenancies in secure housing.

Red Cross Night Café

Council supports the Red Cross Night Café, which provides homeless and disadvantaged young people aged 12-25 with:

  • free meals

  • access to showers and toilets

  • health and legal advice

  • workshops and arts-based activities. 

How to access the Red Cross Night Café

You can access the cafe on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. It's located on the basement level of Brisbane City Hall.

Enter via the door on the Adelaide Street side of the building.  

Essential Contacts Guide  

The Essential Contacts Guide (ECG) gives you contact details for emergency support. 

We share the ECG with community organisations, service providers and police officers who help people experiencing homelessness and needing emergency support.

Public toilets and internet access

Find public toilets across Brisbane using the National Public Toilet Map.

You can also use the free Wi-Fi and computers at a Council library.

If you're experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness you can:

How organisations can help

We have a range of initiatives that support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. 

If you’re a not-for-profit or community organisation, you can get involved in ensuring that everyone in our city has a place to call home. 

The Community Housing Partnership Project provides temporary accommodation to people experiencing and at risk of homelessness in Brisbane.

Expression of interest for housing providers

Council runs an expression of interest process every 5 years to enable housing providers to join the program. 

The next EOI round is expected to open in late-2029.

In 2019, Council launched the Pathways out of Homelessness Grant Program. The program helps Brisbane-based organisations to bolster sector capacity, collaboration and innovation in supporting Brisbane residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness to achieve sustainable tenancies.

The program has also funded enhancements to existing programs that support pathways out of homelessness. Since the program’s inception, $6 million has been invested in 14 projects to help more than 5,700 people gain or sustain tenancies, including 614 people who transitioned into long-term housing.

The Pathways out of Homelessness Program continues in the form of Funding Agreements with organisations working across housing, homelessness, health, and domestic and family violence sectors.

Funding recipients

Find information about the previous recipients of the grant program.

This program provides funds to organisations for projects that support people who are homeless and those in social housing in Brisbane’s inner north.

The Housing Support Program aims to:

  • fund services which focus on empowerment, life skills, employability and social inclusion for people who are homeless
  • provide resources and equipment for these projects and programs
  • provide packages to support individuals transitioning into social and affordable housing.

Do you need help? 

mdi alert Red1

Call Triple Zero 000 in an emergency or for urgent medical help. 

Call Policelink on 131 444 or make an online report for non-urgent incidents, crimes or police enquiries. 

DVConnect (domestic violence womensline)

1800 811 811

24 hours, 7 days

Mensline: 1800 600 636

More domestic and family violence helplines

National Debt Helpline (financial counselling and support)

1800 007 007

Weekdays 9.30am–4.30pm

Find a financial counsellor

Micah Projects (homelessness and domestic violence support)

07 3036 4444

24 hours, 7 days

Micah Projects

Frequently asked questions  

Our housing and homelessness strategy outlines our plans to address the challenges of population growth and changing housing needs.

Addressing homelessness is an increasing challenge for our city and enabling appropriate housing is the long-term solution we want to aim for.

For more information, read about how we're supporting housing supply.

The 2016 census reported 5,813 people homeless in Brisbane. This includes rough sleepers, people who are couch surfing and people living in cars, crisis accommodation and boarding houses.