The Rental Affordability Snapshot 2016 report released by Anglicare today confirms the importance of the Hodgman Liberal Government’s Affordable Housing Action Plan 2015-2019.
The Government is committed to providing more housing for Tasmania’s most vulnerable through the construction of up to 900 new homes and initiatives that will house up to 1600 vulnerable households.
We understand the importance of investing in housing assistance to address affordability issues, particularly for young people, and our Action Plan includes actions that give young people a home, such as a new supported accommodation facility to be built on the North West Coast, the expansion of Thyne House supported accommodation facility in Launceston, the trialling of micro homes known as Youth Castles, and providing head leasing for young people in private rentals.
We are also developing partnerships between Housing Connect and Real Estate Agents to establish appropriate incentives for property owners and private rentals.
It is estimated 350 households will obtain affordable private rentals through this initiative during the life of the Action Plan.
The Government is also in the process of passing the Homes Amendment Bill 2016, which will modernise how housing assistance and homelessness services are provided to Tasmanians in need.
With the budget back under control, we are investing the dividends back into the areas that matter most to Tasmanians such as supporting the vulnerable.
We will continue to work actively with community housing organisations to see more Tasmanians move into affordable housing.