Vulnerable Tasmanians – those who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and those who need support to live independently – are a strong focus of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy.
Our accompanying four-year Action Plan will invest in crisis and supported accommodation to address unmet demand and a range of identified service gaps.
The lack of a supported accommodation facility in Tasmania for fathers and their children is one such shortfall in our housing services and one that we are committed to addressing.
We have allocated $2.5 million on a new seven-unit facility located in the State’s South and managed by the Hobart City Mission.
Part of our immediate investment in affordable housing, this facility will provide a safe place for fathers and their young children with “wrap around” support services.
Similar facilities provide for mothers and their children, but not for those fathers who also are homeless or at-risk of homelessness and need support.
Young people are another group commonly homeless, or at-risk of homelessness, and our Action Plan will also provide an immediate investment of $1.4 million for a new, dedicated Youth at Risk Response Centre.
This facility will help to break the cycle experienced by young people who have been involved with Child and Youth Services and the justice system, and will combine a drop-in centre and short-term supported therapeutic accommodation.
To further help young people make the challenging transition to independent living, our Action Plan will also invest $400,000 in an innovative trial of small homes known as Youth Castles.
In addition to these initiatives, the Government is committed to building a $7.5 million supported youth accommodation facility in the North-West with 25 independent units, including five specifically designed for young people with a disability.
This supported accommodation facility will be the third of its kind targeted at young people in Tasmania.
Thyne House in Launceston is already operating successfully and the 46 unit Hobart’s Trinity Hill is due for completion in November this year.
Older Tasmanians and people living with a disability are also among those at-risk of homelessness, and the Action Plan will generate new housing supply.
An immediate investment of $2.5 million will provide for at least 12 new homes in the State’s North, specifically for older people and people living with a disability.
These homes will be located close to a range of services and community infrastructure to ensure residents are not isolated and have access to the support they need.
Copies of the Strategy and Action Plan are now publicly available on the Department of Health and Human Services website. The web address will be www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/tasmanian_affordable_housing_strategy