Cheap fixes no answer to homeless

Use value-for-money models already here to help in long term, writes Pattie Chugg

HOUSING is an essential need for everyone, but too many Tasmanians are experiencing homelessness.

Everyone agrees effective responses are urgently needed. We need to expand our crisis accommodation and housing services, while developing additional solutions.

As we explore options from the community, we cannot compromise the need to keep people safe. Proposals need to meet expectations that public money will be spent responsibly. Homelessness will only end when Tasmanians have access to secure, safe, long-term housing that meets their needs. This means an adequate supply of affordable rental homes. At the same time as building affordable homes, we need to step up the response to those experiencing homelessness. The 2016 Census counted more than 1600 Tasmanians as homeless. More than half were in the South, mainly Hobart. All research indicates these numbers have increased dramatically since then.

So where do we start? There are many suggestions, including containers, tiny homes and public buildings. Already many services are delivering accommodation and services to people experiencing homelessness. We can build on this expertise. It makes sense to learn from the professionals who assist vulnerable people every day.

Each year, Tasmania’s Specialist Homelessness Services assist more than 8000 people, including those escaping family violence. We have a skilled workforce dedicated to assisting people.

Housing services face increased demand, and every day are forced to turn away increasing numbers. The system is full and blocked due to the difficulty of moving people into affordable longterm accommodation.

The social housing waiting list remains stubbornly above 3000 people, and priority applicants face an average wait of 56 weeks. Clearly we need more social housing. We need to understand what has caused and exacerbated the problem. Tasmania is no longer a place of cheap and affordable rentals. For two years, greater Hobart has been the least affordable capital city in Australia. Evidence shows this trend is not reversing.

Housing stress, where people pay large proportion of their income in rent, is increasing and rising up the income ladder. More and more ordinary Tasmanians, including working families, are finding it hard to find a home.

The warning signals have been coming for some time. Recent years, particularly in Hobart, have seen seismic shifts in the private rental market, with dramatically rising rents relative to people’s incomes, low vacancy rates and an increasingly competitive market. This lack of affordable housing is the biggest cause of homelessness.

While rough sleepers are the most visible, they are only 8 per cent of the homeless population. Many more are living in substandard, unsafe conditions. Even women and children are sleeping in cars. Many people become homeless due to family violence, job loss and rent increase. People run out of options like staying with friends or couch surfing.

Homelessness services have an excellent track record of safety, protecting tenant rights and value for money. Those offering new ideas can draw on these successful models already operating. It is vital to maintain standards for financial accountability, good governance and value for money. Oversight, including police and working with vulnerable persons checks, need to be in place for everyone involved. This is not mere red tape. Experience tells us that ignoring checks and balances exposes people to harm. Professional solutions may not be cheap, but are cost effective in the long run. Any actions intended as a fast response need to be wellresourced. Experienced staff are essential.

We do need immediate responses, but to make homelessness a thing of the past, we need pathways to longer term housing.

Homelessness can happen to any of us, through no fault of our own. While attention is focused on homelessness, we have an opportunity to turn the conversation into action. Working together, we can ensure everyone’s right to a safe and affordable home.