What is Homelessness Week?
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Homelessness affects people of all ages and across all regions. According to the last Census in 2016, over 1600 people will experience homelessness on any given night in Tasmania. This could mean sleeping rough or living in insecure, unsafe, overcrowded or inappropriate accommodation.
Homelessness Week is a national event held each year during the first week of August (2nd-8th in 2021), which aims to raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness, the issues they face and the actions needed to achieve enduring solutions.
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The theme for Homelessness Week in Tasmania this year is Housing Ends Homelessness, and a variety of events will be held right around the State, including opportunities to hear the stories of people with lived experience of homelessness, celebrate the people and organisations who work hard to deliver homelessness services, learn more about homelessness in the community and support those who need assistance.
Shelter Tas has co-ordinated the Tasmanian calendar of events again this year, with a list of the activities to be held detailed below. Please go to the Shelter Tas website for full details of all the events during Homelessness Week, and keep a look out as more events are added closer to the date.
The website also contains lots of useful resources, including factsheets, logos, posters and a social media tile that you can use to help promote your events. And don't forget to support Homelessness Week on social media by using the hashtags #HW2021 and #housingendshomelessness.
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Single Day Events in Homelessness Week
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Mon 2nd August
Online
9:30am to
10:00am
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Minister's Official Welcome to HW2021
Minister for Housing, the Hon Michael Ferguson MP will officially welcome Tasmanians and invite them to engage in National Homelessness Week across Tasmania. You will be able to access the video for the duration of HW2021. More information
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Mon 2nd August
CatholicCare, Launceston
10:30am to
12:30pm
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Homelessness Week Morning Tea
You are invited join CatholicCare Tasmania Housing Connect Support and other services in the housing sector for a morning tea to mark Homelessness Week 2021. Anyone with an interest in supporting tenants is welcome to come along. More information
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Mon 2nd August
Online
11:00am to
12:15pm
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Homelessness Week National Launch
National Homelessness Week will start with the ABC’s Patricia Karvelas in discussion with Dr Angela Jackson on her report, Nowhere to go: the benefits of providing long term social housing to women who have experienced domestic and family violence. This will be followed by a panel discussion. More information
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Tues 3rd August
Queens Domain, Hobart
7:30am to
8:30am
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Vinnies Breakfast
Join St Vincent de Paul for breakfast to raise awareness of homelessness in Hobart. There will be free hot drinks and breakfast pizzas available, plus guest speakers, activities and the opportunity to donate. More information
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Tues 3rd August
Mawson Place, Hobart
2:00pm to
3:00pm
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Launch of 'Hobart Helps' Card
Join the City of Hobart for the launch of the Hobart Helps card. This pocket size resource provides information to assist people find the help that they need. More information
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Tues 3rd August
Mawson Place, Hobart
2:00pm to
3:00pm
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'I am Somebody' Exhibition Opening
The second iteration of the I am Somebody exhibition shows personal and moving audio and photographic interviews that highlight the strength and resilience of local people who have experienced or who still are experiencing homelessness. The exhibition continues until Friday 6 August. More information
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Wed 4th August
Town Hall, Hobart
2:00pm to
4:00pm
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Children's Homelessness Forum
This special Homelessness Week forum will engage the audience in discussion about the future of co-ordinated care provision for unaccompanied children experiencing homelessness, and will include a report on recent policy developments. Bookings are essential. More information
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Thur 5th August
Town Hall, Hobart
9:00am to
12:00pm
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Palliative Care Homelessness Forum
Key Tasmanian stakeholders, service providers and those with lived experience are invited to come together to brainstorm a set of nationally selected questions about palliative care and homelessness. The intention is to formulate this information into a national policy statement and recommendations. More information
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Fri 6th August
Kingston Neighbourhood House
10:00am to
1:00pm
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Kingston Neighbourhood House Launch Event
On Friday 6th August, Kingston Neighbourhood House will be launching the weekly presence of Orange Sky Laundry at KNH. Kingston Library will also be there to offer literacy and numeracy support.
Representatives from the local community and a guest speaker will be there to welcome Orange Sky to Kingston Neighbourhood House. Light refreshments will be available. More information
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Fri 6th August
The Argosy Hotel,
East Devonport
12:30pm to
3:00pm
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YFCC Homelessness Week Luncheon
As part of Homelessness Week 2021, Youth, Family and Community Connections will be holding a luncheon to raise community awareness regarding youth homelessness. The event will include guest speakers Felix Ellis MP and Pattie Chugg from Shelter Tas. By invitation only. More information
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Events Running 2-8 August, and Beyond
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1 - 31 August
Glenorchy City Council Chambers
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Action August
Action August is a month-long project run by Glenorchy City Council to raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness. There are a range of initiatives running at the Glenorchy Council Chambers throughout August. More information
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2 - 8 August
Various locations
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Hats for Homelessness
Wear a hat, give a donation, make a difference for homelessness!
Register your school, organisation, social club or business - and hold your own Hats for Homelessness Day. More information
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4 - 6 August
Mawson Place, Hobart
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'I am Somebody' Exhibition
The City of Hobart Housing With Dignity Reference Group presents the second iteration of the I am Somebody exhibition.
These personal and moving audio and photographic interviews highlight the strength and resilience of local people who have experienced or who still are experiencing homelessness. More information
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12 - 13 August
Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart
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Salvos Sleepout
The Salvos Sleep Out raises awareness and conversations around the lived experiencing of homelessness in Hobart while also raising money to run homelessness outreach services in Hobart. More information
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21 - 22 August
The Salvation Army, Hobart
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Couch Wars
Couch Wars is an activity filled experience for youth in school years 9-12 that includes a sleep out with numerous simulation and game-based activities designed to education and generate discussions around poverty and homelessness. More information
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Reminder of COVID-19 Vaccination Options for Homelessness Sector
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Vaccinations for **ONLY** people experiencing homelessness or residing in Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS)
Moreton Group Medical Services will be visiting major population centres across the North West, North and South of Tasmania, and will provide the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to those experiencing homelessness or in SHS accommodation, and over the age of 16. The vaccination program will run over 12 weeks, with delivery in two doses.
Organisations working with people experiencing homelessness should begin discussions with their clients early, so they have the opportunity to consider if they would like to be vaccinated, as Moreton Group Medical Services are required to obtain informed consent from each person to be vaccinated, and to allow for successful co-ordination and planning of the roll-out.
If you would like more information about the vaccination program, please contact Moreton Group Medical Services at health@moretongroup.com or go to their website - www.moretongroup.com.
Vaccinations Homelessness Services Staff
Specialist Homeless Service staff are now classified as essential workers and are eligible to receive the COVD-19 vaccination. All staff should book through the Tasmanian Government booking system at coronavirus.tas.gov.au/bookings.
People who require additional support
COVID-19 vaccination clinics have been set up in Hobart and Launceston for people living with disability and/or mental illness, their carers, disability support workers, and people who may have anxiety about medical procedures. The clinics will be set up to allow more time and support to be given during the vaccination process including easy read resources, additional space and longer appointment times.
To book in to an Additional Support Clinic or a dedicated Quiet Clinic, call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738, or go to www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/Book-your-vaccine for more information.
You can also use the COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker to find out when and where you can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Nowhere To Go: The benefits of providing long-term social housing to women that have experienced domestic and family violence is a new report released by Equity Economics and commissioned by the Everybody's Home campaign.
The report found that family and domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness for women and children, and analysed the benefits of providing long term social housing to victims of family violence.
Alarmingly, only 3.2% of women fleeing family violence are receiving the long-term housing solutions they need. Equity Economics estimates that the lack of long term social housing is leading to 7,690 women a year returning to violent partners and 9,120 women a year becoming homeless.
Click to link above to read the full report, and you can also join the Homelessness Week National Launch on Monday 2nd August, where Dr Angela Jackson, Lead Economist at Equity Economics, will discuss the report further, followed by a panel discussion.
Everybody's Home have also created a petition that will be sent to the Prime Minister, calling for more social housing for victims of domestic violence. Shelter Tas has already signed the petition, and we encourage you to join us!
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