Hobart City Council to convene urgent meeting to find immediate solutions for homeless crisis

A representative of a Victorian company that converts shipping containers into accommodation has flown into Hobart as the council calls an urgent homelessness crisis meeting.

HOBART City Council will convene an urgent homelessness crisis meeting after they were urged to act on the issue by three leading support organisations.

The council will attempt to co-ordinate a meeting within seven days with the Housing Minister, a Federal Government representative, shelter and homelessness service providers, relevant businesses and other stakeholders who could assist with immediate solutions to the crisis.

The response was prompted by the Hobart City Mission and Colony47 who urged the council to lobby the state and federal governments on the issue.

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A tent where someone is living just out of Hobart's CBD. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

ShelterTas will also meet with council general manager Nick Heath to discuss how best to respond to the chronic housing emergency facing Hobart.

It comes as a manager of a Victorian shipping container flew into Hobart to meet with Alderman Jeff Briscoe.

Ald Briscoe said the company had converted shipping containers for housing that could be moved to Hobart within a week.

Ald Briscoe said if someone provided the land and support services the company would just take a proportion of the rent.

“It’s just a matter of identifying that land,” he said.

“Macquarie Point is still an ideal place because you’ve got to have the short-term crisis accommodation, whether it’s shipping containers or small homes, in a really public place so everyone knows it’s a short-term solution.”

Hobart Councillor Holly Ewin, who brought the motion to council. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Councillor Holly Ewin, who brought the motion to council on Monday night, said it was pleasing her colleagues supported her strong stance to “do something”.

“I want that something to be more than what we’re able to do, but we’re not able to do more without support of state and federal government,” she said.

“Right now we’re looking at crisis accommodation — whether that’s hotel rooms, shipping containers, opening up church halls — hopefully the group will come up with something and we can actually start sheltering people as an immediate solution.”

Cr Ewin said the council would act in a co-ordinator role between the groups to deliver outcomes for people facing homelessness.

She said she hoped solutions would be in place within a couple of weeks.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said about 120 people were currently sleeping rough in the Hobart area every night.

She said local government had a limited role in providing direct housing and support services but could advocate on behalf of the community for better services.

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