As Homelessness Week kicks off for 2020, Tasmanians can rest assured the Government is taking action to ensure Tasmanians in need have access to a roof over their heads.
This year has thrown up many challenges for so many people, and there can be no doubt it has been immensely stressful for those seeking our services, as well as for those providing them.
Our $4.3 million housing and homelessness support package announced in April has provided a range of short, medium and longer term measures to help helping Tasmanians access secure accommodation.
This includes funding to expand Hobart’s successful Safe Night Space program into a 24/7 service operating in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart, along with expanding Housing Connect’s capacity to provide emergency accommodation in hotels, motels and cabins statewide.
We are also continuing with the expansion of our homeless shelters right across the state, with 18 new pods at Bethlehem House and 10 new units at the Hobart Women’s shelter now taking tenants, and work underway to convert the Waratah Hotel into a supported accommodation facility.
Additionally, we are delivering hundreds of new homes and units under our Affordable Housing Strategy and have committed to delivering an additional 1220 new social housing dwellings over the next three years through our $3.1 billion construction blitz, providing secure, long-term accommodation for Tasmanians waiting for housing
Our passionate and dedicated workers have been on the front line as we have dealt with everything 2020 has thrown at us so far, and I thank everyone in our workforce and partner organisations who has worked so hard to help their fellow Tasmanians.
We will continue to do all we can to help our most vulnerable into safe and secure housing right across the state.