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A Message from Shelter Tas CEO
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Tasmania needs a 10% social housing target to end our rental crisis
Shelter Tas advocates for a target of 10% of dwellings in Tasmania to be affordable social rentals. This call for 10% is the number one ask in our Submission to the State Budget Process for 2021-22, and has been taken up by National Shelter as a priority national target.
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We welcome the new homes delivered through Tasmania’s Affordable Housing Strategy, and call for a further boost in this year’s State Budget.
Achieving 10% of dwellings to be affordable social housing would bring Tasmania in line with most European countries, where around 10-15% of dwellings are social housing.
The current level of social housing in Tasmania is around 5-6%. We know the waiting list for social housing is currently at 3 594 applications, and has been consistently over 3 000 applications for some years now.
We know that rental prices have become unaffordable to Tasmanians on low and moderate incomes, who then face housing stress, crisis and ultimately homelessness.
To end housing stress and homelessness for all Tasmanians, we need an adequate supply of social housing, where rents are set at a percentage of household income, and the state has a community asset for the long term. To end Tasmania’s chronic rental crisis, we need to lift the level of social housing to 10%.
The Shelter Tas Budget Submission2021-22 will be submitted later this month. Click here to see previous submissions.
Pattie Chugg
Shelter Tas CEO.
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Call for Contributions to Shelter Tas' Budget Submission
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Preparations are well underway for the 2021-22 Shelter Tas Budget Submission. The priority ask this year continues to be further investment in new, well-located supply of social housing, up to 10% of all dwellings in Tasmania, with a yearly aim of delivering at least 1000 additional affordable homes.
From our members in the housing and homelessness sector we know that Tasmania is seeing an increase in both houselessness (people who only need a house) and homelessness (people who require specialised support to help them gain and maintain a safe and stable home).
Drawing on our members’ experience and expertise, we will also be calling for a number of cohort-specific and place-based initiatives to meet people’s needs for housing and support.
Shelter Tas welcomes ideas from all our members, stakeholders and eNews readers for this year’s Budget Submission. Please have your say if you have ideas or suggestions for us to consider.
To view our previous Budget Submissions, click here.
If you have suggestions for Shelter Tas’ 2021-22 Budget Submission please contact Cynthia at policy@sheltertas.org.au or call the office on 6224 5488.
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Shelter Tas Supports Raise the Rate Campaign
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Shelter Tas supports the Raise the Rate campaign and the call to permanently increase JobSeeker, Youth Allowance and related income support payments to a level that enables people to live a dignified life. We all know the critical link between household income and housing costs which drives too many Tasmanians into housing stress and crisis.
In all regions of Tasmania, we see record low vacancy rates for rental accommodation, for instance in Hobart the vacancy rate is below 1.5%. This means there are very few properties available to rent, leading to a competitive market that drives up the cost of renting.
Social housing is needed in every part of Tasmania, so that everyone can have a stable home, and the opportunity to live well and participate in work, education and community. All neighbourhoods across Tasmania need an inclusive and welcoming approach to people of all income levels, and we all need to get behind the target of 10%.
Shelter Tas will be making a submission to the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s Jobseeker Inquiry, due this month.
For more information, see the ACOSS Raise the Rate campaign web page.
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Roger Jaensch, Minister for Housing, 1 March 2021
Cassy O'Connor, Greens Leader and housing spokesperson, 1 March 2021
Elise Archer, Minister for Building and Construction, 1 March 2021
Housing Minister bereft of ideas
Alison Standen, Shadow Minister for Housing, 24 February 2021
Roger Jaensch, Minister for Housing, 23 February 2021
ABC News, 2 March 2021
AHURI, 2 March 2021
Pro Bono Australia, 23 February 2021
ABC News, 28 February 2021
9 News, 2 March 2021
The Conversation, 23 February 2021
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Employment Opportunity with ABS
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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) have released their Register of Interest for recruitment of Community Field Officers (CFO), as a general expression of interest for employment around the 2021 Census.
The next Census will be on Tuesday 10th August 2021, and CFO roles are being offered in various locations around Australia between July and September 2021, on a casual basis.
The ABS are looking for people who have experience working with the public, people with a good attitude and willingness to help others and support the community, and people with good attention to detail. CFOs will help to reach different communities and support the public to complete the Census. Members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply.
To find out more, and complete the Register of Interest, go to the ABS website.
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Relationships Australia Tasmania is seeking your support in the promotion of the ‘Healthy Tasmania Neighbour Day Challenge’.
Neighbour Day is an annual celebration that encourages people across all communities to build and strengthen their social connections. Neighbour Day will be held on the 28th March this year, and the official 2021 theme is ‘every day is neighbour day’.
The Healthy Tasmania Neighbour Day challenge is an opportunity for community groups to win up to $1000 to support healthy Neighbour Day activities and every day neighbourly action to help create social connection and address loneliness in the community.
You can help support Neighbour Day by sharing Relationship Tas' Facebook and Instagram posts, actively support and encourage community groups in your area to get involved, or submit your own initiative for a Neighbour Day activity. Please visit Neighbour Day Challenge website for more information.
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