Government provides funding to rent rooms for homeless Tasmanians

FUNDING has been released to get homeless Tasmanians into cabins and hotel and motel rooms before winter sets in.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch has released funding to get homeless Tasmanians into cabins and hotel and motel rooms before winter sets in.

FUNDING has been released to get homeless Tasmanians into cabins and hotel and motel rooms before winter sets in but there are already questions over if all those needing urgent help will qualify.

New Housing Minister Roger Jaensch has announced $500,000 would be put up to fund the emergency accommodation measure.

The announcement comes as desperate families continue to trickle into the Hobart Showgrounds to set up camp and after a Housing Summit was held in response to the Mercury’s exposure of the extent of the rental crisis.

As part of the funding package, $150,000 will be provided through the Housing Connect partners to get clients into emergency options — in the Greater Hobart area — and then into more permanent affordable housing options.

All tenants will be referred through Housing Connect and would need to be eligible for such assistance. The number to call to register with Housing Connect is 1800 800 588.

It is not clear how many people will get a roof over their head through the emergency funding.

A government spokesman said low-income families would be eligible and there would be no income eligibility for those experiencing family violence.

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Working families continue to set up camp at the Hobart Showgrounds because they have been squeezed out of the private rental market and do not qualify for public housing.

Mr Jaensch said that on top of the emergency action, 127 brand new housing options will be made progressively available between April and June.

These include 78 two-bedroom units statewide, a nine-unit facility for youth at risk at Moonah, a 25 unit youth accommodation facility in Devonport and 15 units for the Hobart Women’s Shelter.

“This announcement today builds on work of the government and 34 peak bodies and stakeholders who attended the Housing Summit earlier this month, which broadly endorsed several solutions,” Mr Jaensch said.

“The first meeting of the new Cabinet this week endorsed the Housing Summit Communique and its actions, including: the release of 239 hectares of Government-owned land, an estimated 2000 land parcels, with fast-track legislation to accelerate zoning changes and the supply of affordable housing.”

He said legislation would be introduced in the first session of Parliament to offer a Land Tax rebate to incentivise property owners to list up to 500 existing properties for rental. This program is now open by application to www.sro.tas.gov.au.

The Housing Tasmania Stock Match initiative is also under way under which tenants are better matched with Housing Tasmania properties