Tasmanian government reveals how many homeless people are believed to be sleeping rough in Hobart

As Homelessness Week begins, the state government has revealed how many people it believes to be sleeping rough on the streets of Hobart.

It’s been revealed a “core” of about 60-80 people are regularly sleeping rough on the streets of Hobart, as the state government prepares to overhaul its response to the homelessness crisis.

Housing Minister Guy Barnett said Homelessness Week, which begins on Monday, served as a reminder of the housing challenges facing many Tasmanians.

Mr Barnett, who has held the portfolio since April, said he had been drawing on his experience as a volunteer supporting homeless people.

“The good book says, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ and ‘There but for the grace of God go I’. And I say that because I’ve had 12 years as a volunteer with my local church, supporting and caring for homeless Tasmanians,” he said.

Minister for State Development, Construction and Housing Guy Barnett (centre) speaks to the media after a housing summit in Hobart on Monday, July 11, 2022.

“And that’s been a privilege. I’ve learnt a lot. I’ve seen the impact of drug and alcohol addiction, family violence and family breakdown, mental health illness.”

The state’s 17 crisis shelters, as well as its Safe Spaces in Hobart, Burnie and Launceston, are struggling to keep up with demand, as property prices soar and rental affordability plummets.

According to the latest data from the Housing Dashboard, there are 4450 applicants languishing on the public housing waiting list.

Peter White, the deputy secretary of Communities Tasmania’s community services, infrastructure and housing division, said there were about 60-80 people sleeping rough in Hobart right now.

“What we know from the housing register is that … at the end of June, I think it was just about 10 per cent or so of clients were probably in one … (form) of homelessness,” he said.

Tex, who is long-term homeless and now living at Kangaroo Bay in a tent. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The government has committed to building 10,000 new social and affordable homes by 2032, with Mr Barnett saying 1500 of these were on track to be built by June 30 next year.

The minister said the government was undertaking a “gaps analysis” to determine where the most acute need for housing was occurring and which cohorts would require the most assistance in coming years.

“By mid-next year, we will, working with my ministerial reference group and other key stakeholders and the building and construction sector, (release) a 20-year … (housing and homelessness) action plan and strategy,” Mr Barnett said.

A new housing authority, which will be called Homes Tasmania, will be the vehicle through which the government will seek to deliver on its 10,000 homes pledge. The body is set to be established by October 1 and will be given special buying and borrowing powers.

Housing provider’s grim assessment of homelessness problem

The head of a leading community housing provider says homelessness is only getting worse in Tasmania and it’s beginning to affect the mental health of his staff, who feel helpless in the face of skyrocketing demand.

Anglicare Tasmania general manager of housing and community services Noel Mundy said support workers were helping clients they wouldn’t have seen come through their doors in previous years.

Mr Mundy said Anglicare had recently assisted a man with a tertiary degree and “great references” who was nonetheless struggling to find accommodation after receiving a notice to vacate his rental property.

Adult Supported Accommodation Facilities co-ordinator Olivia Daniel and Anglicare Housing and Community Services General manager Noel Mundy. Picture: Chris Kidd

“He struggled for a number of weeks to get (a place),” Mr Mundy said.

“Things like that … we haven’t seen so much in the past.”

Mr Mundy said he feared rents would continue to increase due to rising interest rates and cost of living pressures.

He lamented the impact the housing crisis was having on vulnerable Tasmanians, as well as Anglicare staff, who he said had been left despondent by a lack of solutions.

“The staff are starting to be affected because the same people are coming in plus newer people and we still haven’t got a key to the front door to give them,” Mr Mundy said, adding that housing and homelessness problems had become more acute since former premier Will Hodgman convened the Tasmanian Housing Summit in 2018.

Adult Supported Accommodation Facilities co-ordinator Olivia Daniel and Anglicare Housing and Community Services General manager Noel Mundy. Picture: Chris Kidd

He welcomed the state government’s commitment to build 10,000 new social and affordable houses by 2032, but cast doubt on whether it would actually be able to honour such a pledge.

“Not only are (building materials) expensive – you can’t get them,” Mr Mundy said. “That 10,000 is basically three houses a day. And I don’t think that’s going to occur.”

“We’ll need to keep the government accountable to that.

“But it’s going to be a struggle, particularly in the next few years.”

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Originally published as Tasmanian government reveals how many homeless people are believed to be sleeping rough in Hobart