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A Message from Shelter Tas CEO
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Housing crisis and cost of living key issues for Federal election
With the Federal election fast approaching, cost of living pressures for all Tasmanians, and particularly for renters are front of mind. The Anglicare 2022 Rental Affordability Snapshot, released Thursday 28 April shows people on low incomes in our State have little hope of securing affordable homes in the private rental market. For example, only 2 properties statewide were affordable for a single person receiving Jobseeker.
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Whoever is elected as the new Federal Government needs to help end Tasmania’s housing crisis. Building much-needed social housing provides both an economic boost and a public good. All Tasmanians need a safe and affordable home - to prevent homelessness, limit the risk of virus transmission in overcrowded dwellings, and reduce the stress on renting families and homelessness services.
Shelter Tas is joining our national peaks to call for housing and homelessness actions, including those listed below. We note some positive policies for systemic improvements and assistance for lower income home purchasers have been announced (see below), and we still hope to see policies from all parties that will ensure all renters and owners in Tasmania can afford to have the homes they need.
Pattie Chugg
Shelter Tas CEO.
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Shelter Tas' Key Election Asks
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The Federal Election is fast approaching, and along with our national colleagues, Shelter Tas is calling for:
- A National Housing Strategy and a National First People’s Housing Strategy
- A target of social housing to be 10% of all housing and national construction of at least 25,000 new social and affordable homes per annum to meet the target
- 20% increase and funding certainty for Specialist Homelessness Services
- National 'build to rent to buy' program for lower-income households
- National climate resilience fund to support retrofitting or renewal of poorly performing/located social housing, particularly managed by community housing organisations
- Increasing the Commonwealth Rental Assistance rate by 50%
- National rental law reform to improve security, affordability and safety in the rental market
- Delivering a plan to end homelessness by 2035.
For more details on election priorities from our network, just click on the document links from the following organisations:
National Shelter
Community Housing Industry Association
Everybody's Home Campaign
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National Shelter Housing Election Forum
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This election is critical for the future direction of policy and funding for social and affordable housing, as Australia experiences a national housing emergency with house prices increasing faster than people’s incomes - pushing households into financial distress, poverty, and homelessness.
National Shelter invites you to join their federal election housing forum, to hear from key candidates about their strategies to address housing need in Australia.
You will hear from:
- Mehreen Faruqi, Senator for NSW and Greens housing spokesperson
- Andrew Wilkie MP, Independent Member for Clark
- Rebecca Sharkie MP, Independent Member for Mayo
Further panellists will be announced shortly, and there will be an opportunity for questions from the audience.
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Date & Time:
Friday 6th May 2022
4pm - 5:30pm (AEST)
Cost:
This is a FREE online event via Zoom
Register:
Places are limited and registrations are essential
Click here for more information and to register your place
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ALP Announces Housing Measures
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Shelter Tas welcomes the ALP’s recent election announcement of housing measures, including:
- Help to Buy – a shared equity scheme for lower-income earners
- National Housing Supply and Affordability Council
- National Housing and Homelessness Plan
- Housing Australia Future Fund will contribute $200m for the repair, maintenance and improvement of remote housing across Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Click here to see the joint media release from National Shelter and CHIA in response to the announcement.
If you would like to know more about housing policies from the major parties, click on these links:
ALP - Safer and More Affordable Housing
Liberals - Housing and Home Ownership
Greens - Homes for All
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Housing and Homelessness News
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Invitations for NW Men's Shelter Service Provider
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The Tasmania Government is inviting suitably experienced non-government organisations to manage the new men's shelter located in Devonport.
This will be the first dedicated men’s shelter on the North-West Coast, providing accommodation for men who are homeless, including those with full or shared custody arrangements.
The facility includes a two-storey dwelling with seven one-bedroom units and a separate three-bedroom apartment that can accommodate a father with up to four accompanying children.
The development comes after advice from local service providers who identified the difficulty men were experiencing finding secure, safe, affordable accommodation, particularly if they had full or shared child custody.
Grant proposals close at 2:00 pm (AEST), Thursday 2 June 2022, with all proposals to be lodged via housing.programs@communities.tas.gov.au. Construction work on the development is expected to start soon. See www.communities.tas.gov.au/housing for more details.
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Latest Housing Dashboard Update
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The March 2022 Housing Dashboard is available at the Communities Tas website.
There are 4 405 households waiting for social housing (down slightly from 4 407 in February).
The time for priority applicants to be housed has increased to 74.9 weeks (monthly figure as of March 2022) from 49.8 in February, and the rolling 12 month average waiting time is 64 weeks.
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Parity Magazine Call for Contributions
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Parity magazine is the Council to Homeless Persons' national publication, and they are currently seeking contributions for their May 2022 edition - Holding the Line: The Salvation Army Response to Homelessness.
This is the first edition of Parity to focus on the work of one organisation, and reflects on the work of The Salvation Army over the course of its long history, its work today, and its future directions.
All contributions should be submitted as Word documents to parity@chp.org.au. Contributions can be up to 1,600 words (double page spread) or 800 words for a single page article. Please contact Parity Editor Noel Murray at parity@chp.org.au or ring (03) 8415 6200 if you have any questions, and you can click here for the call for contributions document. The deadline for this edition is COB Friday 13 May 2022.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Reminders and Updates
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Please go to coronavirus.tas.gov.au for up-to-date COVID-19 information and resources. You will find assistance with COVID-19 testing, RATs, vaccination information, community safety and procedure for positive cases etc. There is also a separate page for emergency accommodation support.
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Research, Reports & Articles
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Celebrating Capacity - 2 Day Training
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Bridges Out of Poverty trainer, Nairn Walker presents Celebrating Capacity. A powerful training experience for those working with vulnerable people.
The two-day workshop will help you see economic inequity differently. It will assist you to understand and identify the capacity people have developed to negotiate life’s challenges. You will explore ways to harness this capacity to co-create with them a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.
The evidence-based strategies and tools presented can easily be applied to the interactions, practices, programs and policies you use every day with the people you want to help.
Organised by Launceston City Mission and Presbyterian Care Tas.
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When:
Thurs 12 May & Fri 13 May 2022, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Where:
Tailrace Centre, Riverside
Cost:
$250, ticket sales closing on 28 April
Register:
Click here for more information and registration
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Driving population growth in regional cities
With Australia’s population set to double in the next 50 years, and much of the growth predicted to be concentrated in our major metropolitan cities, policy makers are interested in strategies that can drive migration to the regions and alleviate some of the pressures on urban centres.
For these strategies to succeed, new residents need to see regional cities as desirable places to live – with affordable housing, job opportunities, access to services and infrastructure, and connectivity back to urban centres.
Drawing on two research projects from the AHURI Inquiry into population growth in Australia’s smaller cities, this webinar will examine the key drivers of regional migration, as well as the lived experience and benefits of living in regional Australian cities.
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Date:
Wednesday 18th May 2022
Time:
11:00am - 12:30pm
Cost:
FREE
Register:
Click here to register and to find out more.
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National Homelessness Conference 2022
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AHURI, in partnership with Homelessness Australia, will convene the National Homelessness Conference 2022 as a hybrid event - held simultaneously in Canberra and online from 8 - 10 August 2022. Keep an eye out on the AHURI website for more information.
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Employment Opportunity at Colony 47
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Colony 47 is currently advertising a full time position of Front Door Coordinator at Housing Connect.
The Front Door (FD) Coordinator works to ensure service delivery and leadership of a team of approximately 19, while also having autonomy for the leadership of complementary managerial and budgetary responsibilities. The FD Coordinator is responsible for delivering Housing Connect services in accordance with the contractual requirements of the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS), the Program’s performance measures and the strategic direction of Colony 47.
Go to the Colony 47 website for more information (including position description) and to apply for the role. For any further enquiries, contact Didi Okwechime (Manager, Colony 47 Housing Solutions) at ndidio@colony47.com.au. Applications close 8 May 2022.
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Reminder of Support Available - South Tas
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Loui's Van Now Operating in Bellerive
Loui's Van is now operating every Tuesday night from Kangaroo Bay Drive (next to the BBQ area) in Bellerive, from 6:40pm-6:55pm.
Food (including soup and sandwiches), hot and cold drinks, information about other services, support and companionship will be provided.
If you would like more information, please call the Vinnies Community Office on 6234 4244.
Food Connections Clarence
Food Connections Clarence is a project aimed at helping provide older and isolated people with healthy meals, as well as regular social contact. Community members come together to enjoy good food, make new friends and connect with their local community.
Click here to find out times and locations to attend.
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The Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHCADS) Industry Award 2010 updated pay table sets out the rates of pay and allowances that apply from the first full pay period commencing on or after 1 July 2021. Provided by Jobs Australia, via TasCOSS.
View the latest SCHCADS Industry Award 2010 pay tables here
View the SCHCADS Industry Award 2010 here
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