500,000 houses to help the homeless

MISSION Australia wants to put an end to homelessness nationwide by 2030, despite figures showing the number of homeless people is on the rise.

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures from the 2016 Census showed 116,000 Australians were homeless — a 16 per cent rise from 2011.

Visiting Hobart to unveil Mission Australia’s call to end homelessness, chief executive James Toomey said eradicating the problem, which affects 1615 Tasmanians, would require commitment from all levels of government and the corporate sector.

“We know that homelessness is a big issue here in this region and across the nation. I am not at all surprised that the homeless figures have increased,” Mr Toomey said.

“We alone can’t solve homelessness by 2030, but we are trying to develop a sectorwide response and work together to find a solution that will be achievable.

“It’s a challenging and audacious goal, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try.”

Mr Toomey said curbing the nationwide problem would require building 500,000 new houses across Australia.

“To even begin to house those who are in need, we require the Commonwealth and state and territory governments to commit to the building of 300,000 new social homes and 200,000 affordable rental properties,” he said.

“This must include measures to harness private sector investment and ensure investors have surety around the future viability of their investments through longterm and consistent subsidy from governments.

“It also requires localised housing targets to ensure new developments meet the needs of all the community.”

ABS figures out yesterday showed 28,600 homeless Australians were working full-time — a figure which stunned Hobart Showgrounds housing crisis facilitator Scott Gadd.

“That’s what shocked us in the first place when the crisis housing at the showgrounds was first set up,” Mr Gadd said.

“When we saw working families who were homeless, we knew it was a major problem.”

Australian Council of Trade Union Secretary Sally McManus agrees.

“It is appalling that in a wealthy, prosperous country like Australia, nearly 30,000 can work full-time jobs but not earn enough to afford basics like housing,” she said.