Extra temporary accommodation units open at Bethlehem House for men at risk of homelessness

In just four months, horticulturalist Shaun Pitt has been able to turn his life around after finding much more stable accommodation than the shed he had been living in for two years.

Shaun Pitt who is a resident at the temporary accommodation units which are now operational near Bethlehem House in Hobart. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

• Pod-style accommodation boost for women’s shelter
• Bethlehem House set to receive 18 ‘living pods’ in effort to address Hobart’s housing crisis

IF IT wasn’t for new accommodation at Hobart’s biggest men’s shelter, Shaun Pitt would likely still be living in a shed.

Eighteen extra temporary accommodation pod-style units have recently become operational at Bethlehem House.

The units were funded as part of the state government’s $5 million emergency homeless response announced last year to provide more emergency and short-term accommodation to vulnerable Tasmanians.

The units were installed earlier this year, offering a space for men experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

The extra 18 bed spaces, mean up to 50 homeless men in total will be supported at the Warwick St facility.

Ten two-bedroom accommodation pods were also recently opened at the Hobart Women’s Shelter plus seven new family units managed by the shelter have added to the state’s temporary accommodation stock.

“These services will ensure some of our most vulnerable can access a secure place to sleep and the services they need to assist them into secure accommodation, and adds to other initiatives to alleviate homelessness and housing stress across the state,” Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said.

Shaun Pitt, 34, has been living at Bethlehem House for almost four months and will remain there until he can find somewhere more permanent.

The horticulturalist by trade said it was a much better living situation than the one he found himself in previously.

“I was living in a person’s backyard in a tin shed for two years,” he said.

“It was pretty rough. I hadn’t heard of Bethlehem House and then someone put me onto it and now my whole life has changed.

“It’s given me stability and enabled me to get on with my life, get back into work plus getting myself right mentally.”