Minister bemoans social housing wait

TASMANIA’S Housing Minister says it is “not acceptable” priority applicants are waiting up to 67 weeks to be placed into social housing.

Speaking alongside Launceston City Mission chief executive Stephen Brown to mark the start of Homelessness Week 2022, Guy Barnett said the state government “wished we could click our fingers and make (homelessness) go away but it doesn’t work like that”.

“Every Tasmanian deserves a roof over their head,” he said.

According to the latest Communities Tasmania Housing Dashboard report, there are 4453 outstanding applications for social housing – an increase of 100 since January – and priority applicants are waiting an average of 67 weeks for placement.

“It’s way too long, it’s not acceptable, that’s why we have a big plan to make a difference,” Mr Barnett said.

While he agreed homelessness in Tasmania had worsened during the past decade, he declined to accept any responsibility on behalf of the Liberal government, which has been in power since 2014.

“We have among the lowest levels of homelessness per population in Australia,” he said.

“This is happening across the country, it’s not just Tasmania, but we’ve got to respond to these challenges. There’s a lot more to do.”

Mr Barnett reiterated the government’s $1.5bn commitment to build 10,000 new affordable homes by 2032, with 3500 of them due by 2027.

He further noted other forms of government support, including a $36m annual spend on wraparound services, such as 17 specialist homelessness services.

Mr Barnett revealed more detail about the government’s plans to create a new housing authority, to be called Homes Tasmania, led by a skillsbased board.

This would be in place by October 1 once it receives parliamentary approval.

Tasmania’s housing program is administered by the Director of Housing.

A newly formed reference group was advising state government, Mr Barnett said, in respect of “planning, land release, green and red tape reduction”, while a “needsanalysis” under way will determine where best to allocate resources. Mr Barnett said he hoped to release a 20year strategy by mid-next year after the conclusion of the analysis, with rolling fiveyear action plans.

Mr Brown said the issue of homelessness was largely one of mathematics: there are not enough permanent homes being built to house vulnerable Tasmanians.

“It’s only as we create those that we create a whole system where people can come into emergency, stabilised and then we’ve got somewhere to refer them to,” he said.