Housing Tasmania plans staff cuts for social housing site

A planned reduction in services at a social housing site in Hobart’s CBD has been described by residents as “baffling” and earned the ire of a former premier.

Residents Joanne Robinson, 54, left, and Hedy Thomas, 67, are concerned they could end up homeless. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

A PLANNED reduction in services at a social housing site in Hobart’s CBD has earned the ire of former premier Paul Lennon.

Documents lodged with the Hobart City Council by Communities Tasmania show the human services department will no longer provide for a 24-hour staff member on-site at the former Common Ground facility on Goulburn St.

Regular security patrols will also wind down but staff and security will be available on call “if any issues arise”.

Extra funding will be given to Anglicare — which started managing the social housing complex mid-last year — to employ one person to work six hours each on Saturdays and Sundays. That is in addition to the three employees working at the complex 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday.

“This is for a three-month period and has been implemented to address concerns raised by tenants,” the documents said. “It is not expected to continue.”

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The Common Ground housing units in Goulburn St, Hobart. Picture: LEIGH WINBURN

Resident Joanne Robinson has lived at the Goulburn Street property since 2012 and said having on-the-ground staff available 24 hours a day had allowed her to restart her life.

“I moved in there not knowing anybody and that to me was really important,” she said.

“And yes, it took me a few years to [start looking at life differently], but I got there and I got there with the Common Ground model.”

Former premier Paul Lennon. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Common Ground originated in New York and offers social supports alongside long-term accommodation to low-income and homeless people aimed at ending long-term homelessness. Mr Lennon brought the Common Ground founder to Tasmania while premier in 2007, then served as board chairman between 2011 and 2016, when management of the site was tendered to non-government organisations.

Mr Lennon said Communities Tasmania’s application to reclassify the site from “welfare institution” to “communal residence” — removing the need for a supervisor to be on-site at all times — was “sneaky and very, very disappointing”.

He said the model worked to give previously homeless people a “safe and secure environment”.

A Communities Tasmania spokesman said Housing Tasmania’s application to reclassify the site was aimed at ensuring its use aligned with its planning permit.

The council will vote on the proposed permit change on Monday with a planning officer recommending the application receive the green light.

The Communities Tasmania spokesman said: “The use of the site is in accordance with the provider’s contract and consistent with other models of care for this type of accommodation. The transition to this model of care was made some time ago, was done in consultation with tenants and is working effectively.”