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The Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s (REIQ) successful pilot of The Priority Project (TPP) has prompted the program’s further expansion across south-east Queensland.
First proposed by the institute in 2021, and launched two years later in late 2023, The Priority Project is a program that offers early or exclusive access to safe, accessible and secure housing to women and children who have faced domestic or family violence (DFV).
REIQ CEO, Antonia Mercorella, said the pilot program has already housed women in Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan and Redland Bay, and has prompted planning for expansion to Ipswich, Toowoomba, and possibly the Gold Coast.
Mercorella said the institute is “incredibly proud” to have participated in The Priority Project’s pilot phase.
“Property managers and property owners have been instrumental in giving these women and children a fresh start, offering them a chance to regain control over their lives in a stable, secure environment,” Mercorella said.
Since the project’s launch, the CEO noted it has been successful in housing 38 women and over 50 children affected by DFV – more than double the pilot’s prediction.
“This pilot program has not only exceeded expectations, but has already made a profound difference in the lives of those who need it most,” Mercorella said.
“The women housed say they are experiencing a sense of relief, stability, and the hope of a new beginning,” she explained.
The REIQ said that property managers in participating locations can take a proactive approach by including information about The Priority Project in their communications with clients, especially when an upcoming vacancy is expected.
Lessors who decide to participate in the project can then offer their properties to go on to The Priority Project’s register when their current tenants are due to vacate.
Community services then recommend potential tenants to The Priority Project’s organisers, who assess their suitability for a property, such as whether they can afford the rent.
Once a suitable match is found between a property and an applicant, tenants independently sign a lease, undergo the regular vetting process, and pay bond and rent as usual.
Property managers then manage the tenancy like any other, but the tenant can still access support services, such as tenancy sustainment support, if necessary.
Mercorella commended the efforts of those involved in The Priority Project, and invited more property managers and agencies to consider the program’s benefits.
“I encourage property owners and managers to reach out to The Priority Project team to hear how supporting this project helps women and allows property managers to offer a no-pressure profitable philanthropy option to their clients,” she concluded.
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