Government accused of ignoring on Housing Connect concerns after shock Colony 47 decision
The state government has been accused of turning a blind eye to concerns from community sector organisations regarding a plan to overhaul the state’s key housing assistance program. Latest.
Tasmania
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A Tasmanian charity’s decision to end its partnership with the state government to deliver housing assistance has shown that the Liberals are “ignoring” the concerns of community sector organisations amid a housing and cost of living crisis, Labor says.
It comes after the Sunday Tasmanian revealed that Colony 47 CEO Dianne Underwood had written to four other charities to inform them that the organisation didn’t intend to continue providing services through Housing Connect, which is currently being overhauled.
Colony 47 has been delivering assistance with Housing Connect, which is funded by the state government, since 2013.
“It is our firm view that the new [Housing Connect] model and proposed funding will fail to meet current, and forecast, levels of demand, create unmanageable caseloads and place staff at unacceptable risk,” Ms Underwood wrote.
Labor housing spokeswoman Ella Haddad said concerns had been raised by providers regarding the closed tender process for the renewed Housing Connect “right from the beginning” but the government “has chosen to ignore all of those”.
“I think the government really is put on notice now to take these concerns very seriously on behalf of the thousands of Tasmanians who rely on the community sector,” she said.
Government minister Roger Jaensch said Homes Tasmania, which is administering the tender process and overseeing the reforms, was “taking into account the views of not only service providers currently involved in that work but also those with lived experience of using those services, as well”.
“We will always listen to all of the partners and players in this system,” he said. “It’s a very important, highly integrated system and nation-leading and has been for some time. The process at the moment is intended to improve that even more.”
‘Unacceptable risk’: Colony 47 lashes new housing plan
September 24, 12am
A leading charity which helps homeless Tasmanians has criticised a new government model of housing funding saying it will fail to meet demand, “create unmanageable caseloads and place staff at unacceptable risk”.
In a letter to four other charities, obtained by the Sunday Tasmanian, Colony 47 CEO Dianne Underwood says that after more than 10 years the board and management has decided not to tender to continue to provide services under Housing Connect 2.0 Request for Grant Proposal (RFGP).
“We currently receive 160 calls a day from people needing our help and our focus until the end of our contract will be to continue our high level of intensive support for our clients and to also work with our team to help them transition into roles outside of the Colony 47 Housing Connect program,” she wrote.
“Having proudly and diligently provided front door services in Southern Tasmania for the past decade, this is not a decision we have taken lightly.
“As you are aware, Colony 47 first identified questions and concerns with the draft RFGP in June 2022 and we have attempted to work through these issues with Homes Tasmania in good faith.
“The final RFGP documentation released on 16 August 2023 has only served to reinforce and magnify our original concerns.
“It is our firm view that the new model and proposed funding will fail to meet current, and forecast, levels of demand, create unmanageable caseloads and place staff at unacceptable risk.”
Ms Underwood sent the letter to Anglicare, CatholicCare Tasmania, Hobart City Mission and the Salvation Army.
In it she explains that Colony 47 has asked Homes Tasmania to extend the current contracts until at last June 30, 2025 “to provide more time to ensure the new model can truly meet the needs of vulnerable Tasmanians”.
Homes Tasmania CEO Eleri Morgan said Colony 47 had not advised Homes Tasmania that they would not tender to deliver Housing Connect.
She said previous discussions with Colony 47 prior to the tender release were “primarily about their concerns that they did not have the ability to provide a statewide service”.
“It is disappointing to hear that a well-respected youth-focused organisation has expressed their intent not to tender for the smaller Housing Connect contract for the provision of youth support,” Ms Morgan said.
Independent chair of the Housing Connect Reform Steering Committee, Tracy Matthews, said the new service system would be an “improvement” and had been designed in close partnership with service providers.
“The Housing Connect partners and Homes Tasmania have a clear vision and plan to improve service delivery,” she said.
“Tasmanians will find it easier to get the support they need when the new service system commences mid-next year.”
Ms Underwood said with the RFGP closing on September 27, the opportunity for Homes Tasmania “to respond and rectify this situation is diminishing’.
It is understood Colony 47 is upset at massive caseloads for workers and that funding of $39 for emergency overnight accommodation is inadequate.
Originally published as Government accused of ignoring on Housing Connect concerns after shock Colony 47 decision
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