Stable home just dream for David

A HOBART man says it “feels like a lifetime ago” since he had a stable home, as he prepares to leave the Hobart Showgrounds, where he’s stayed for four months.

The showgrounds has been a place of refuge for many who have fallen victim to the housing crisis in recent years. Construction will soon begin on stage three of the redevelopment of the showgrounds, meaning those staying at the site needed to leave.

David Farnell is one of the few residents left who did not have anywhere to go.

“There’s some campgrounds around, they usually have a maximum stay of 10 days,” he said.

Mr Farnell has been on the housing waiting list for three years and has not yet been offered a place.

His struggle with homelessness began with tragedy, and since then, he’s had no stability.

“This is going into the fourth year, prior to that I was living on a farm up in Buckland,” he said.

“I had a partner at the time, I was with her for seven years, who passed away due to a head on collision.

“Ever since then I’ve really had nowhere to go … that was the last time I had a stable residence, feels like a lifetime ago.”

The Salvation Army has been working with some of those living at the showgrounds.

Labor’s housing spokesman Ella Haddad criticised the government’s handling of the situation, claiming 20 Tasmanians were being displaced.

“As recently as a month ago, they said they’d be finding a solution,” Ms Haddad said.

But Housing Minister Guy Barnett there were only a handful of individuals who were not accounted for.

“There are seven households remaining at the site including a site caretaker,” he said.

“We are advised that one household has secured accommodation and is moving this week.

“Two households are actively working with Housing Connect. The three remaining households have not engaged with Housing Connect or the Street to Home support workers.”