Homelessness Week 2023: Tasmania’s homelessness rates increase from 2016 to 2021

Tasmania has gone from the state with the lowest rate of homelessness to the fourth-highest, and our current private rental market does not provide choice to those at risk. How you can help this Homelessness Week.

Shelter Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Pattie Chugg has called for affordable rentals to be increased from six per cent to ten per cent of all dwellings. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE

Tasmania has gone from the state with the lowest rate of homelessness to the fourth-highest in the country, and our current private rental market does not offer enough options for those at risk – especially women and children.

Shelter Tasmania CEO Pattie Chugg said as Homelessness Week begins on Monday, too many people were still facing the reality of homelessness.

“The Housing Ends Homelessness theme [for Homelessness Week] amplifies the Shelter Tas message that to end the homelessness crisis, Tasmania needs to build more affordable homes for people to rent where they can be secure and safe,” Ms Chugg said.

“Shelter Tas calls for affordable rentals like social housing to be increased from the current six per cent to ten per cent of all dwellings, to keep pace with need and population growth.”

In the 2021 Census, a total of 2,350 people in Tasmania were homeless – up from 1,622 in 2016.

Shelter Tasmania CEO Pattie Chugg.

This represented an increase of 728 people, or 44.8 per cent, experiencing homelessness in the state in the five years since 2016.

“From having the lowest rate of homelessness of all state’s and territories in previous Census years, Tasmania now has the fourth highest rate of people experiencing homelessness, at 42.1 per cent per 10,000,” she said.

“This shocking trend is moving in the wrong direction.”

Currently, Tasmania’s homelessness sector supports more than 7,000 people per year, with Ms Chugg saying that on any given day, 42 requests for help went unassisted.

One-third of requests are said to involve family or domestic violence.

Ms Chugg said most times, requests for help went unassisted because people needed accommodation and it “simply can’t be found”.

Ms Chugg said calls for assistance often went unassisted because of a lack of appropriate accommodation. Picture: Istock

For women and children, family violence are a major cause of homelessness, and account for one third of requests to specialist homelessness services.

“Tasmania’s current private rental market offers very few affordable and secure options for women and children who need to leave a violent situation’ as well as for women aged over 55 – the fastest growing demographic group of people facing homelessness, due to lower incomes and resources,” she said.

“In addition, 569 young Tasmanians aged 18 and under were without a home on Census night, and of these, 325 were children aged under 12 years old.”

Minister for Housing and Construction Nic Street said the state government’s $1.5bn housing package would

deliver 10,000 new social and affordable homes by the end of 2032.

Last month, Homes Tasmania delivered 276 new homes.

“But, we know there are Tasmanians who are doing it tough and need our support right now,” he said.

“Which is why the Tasmanian Government provides more than $38m a year to Homes Tasmania to invest in specialist homelessness services.”

As part of Homelessness Week, purple lights will shine bright on a range of landmarks around the state including the Tasman Bridge in Hobart, and the penguin in Penguin.

Activities including films, breakfasts, walks and exhibitions where people can learn more about homelessness in the community and the solutions that can end homelessness will also be held.

View the full event calendar here: https://bit.ly/3YqGGis

Homelessness Week 2023 events, August 7 to 13:

> Official welcome to Homelessness Week 2023

> Wall of Gratitude instillation Bellerive and New Town

> Hobart Women’s Shelter Buy a Brick campaign

> Everybody’s Home campaign

Other events:

> Vinnies breakfast, August 8, Queens Domain, Hobart

> Are Safe Spaces Enough? New conversations on rough sleeping in Tasmania, August 9, Hobart Town Hall

> Walk to raise awareness for Homelessness Week, August 10, Launceston City Park Rotunda

> I am Somebody 2023 Exhibition, August 10 to 14, Waterside Pavilion, Hobart

> Salvos Sleepout, August 10 to 11, Hobart and Glenorchy

> Hobart City Mission Safe Space open day, August 12, 47 Davey St, Hobart