Bethlehem House set to receive 18 ‘living pods’ in effort to address Hobart’s housing crisis

More beds will soon be available for Hobart’s homeless, but there is still no timeline for when the state’s housing debt might be waived by the Federal Government.

ONE of Hobart’s biggest homeless shelters is set to get even bigger and take in some of society’s most vulnerable amid the state’s housing crisis.

The State Government this week announced $5 million in emergency funding would be used to provide housing for up to 70 homeless people.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch announced the money would be used in part to expand the capacity of existing homeless shelters by installing prefabricated units alongside their existing facilities.

Bethlehem House will benefit from an extra 18 bed spaces, meaning up to 50 homeless men in total will be supported at the Warwick St facility.

Bethlehem House chief executive officer Stephanie Kirkman Meikle said it was a very significant development for the shelter, which would also include funding for extra support workers and a case manager.

Bethlehem House CEO Stephanie Kirkman Meikle. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

“The installation of the 18 living pods will enable some of the most vulnerable homeless men in our community — many of whom have complex support needs — to come off the streets and connect to the wraparound support services they need,” she said.

“It will be a big job to feed, house and look after the health and wellbeing of 50 men, but we are looking forward to the challenge.”

It comes as Member for Clark Andrew Wilkie asked the Federal Government in parliament for an update on the waiving of the state’s housing debt.

Andrew Wilkie. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Earlier this month, Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie voted for the Government’s tax cut package on the condition the $157 million housing debt be waived.

Federal Minister for Housing Michael Sukkar said it was clear in Hobart there was a “significant gap between the approvals of new dwellings and the increase in population which is putting pressure across the housing spectrum”.

“At the [Hobart homelessness] forum, yes we did speak about the housing debt, that was a topic of conversation and similarly, the Hobart City Deal,” he said.

Mr Sukkar went on to detail the previously announced $30 million the Federal Government was providing for housing measures as part of the city deal.

Mr Wilkie said the response was disappointing.

“The public interest is not being served by the uncertainty over the housing debt,” he said. “The community is looking to the minister to more clearly tell us what’s going on.”