Expo to help people get into homes

Sue Hickey explains strategies that can help low-income earners purchase a house

IT is easy to assume that home ownership is now out of reach for the average Tasmanian.

However, this may not be the case if you are eligible for Tasmanian Government initiatives aimed at helping people take the first steps towards home ownership.

In addition to the first homeowner’s scheme, there is much more for which you may qualify.

This Sunday between 10am-4pm the State Government will host a Housing Ends Homelessness Expo at the Hobart City Hall to provide information about services for those experiencing housing stress or who may be at risk of homelessness.

I encourage you to come and have a look. There are all sorts of programs that may suit you.

HomeShare, for example, is a Government initiative that helps make home ownership a reality for many struggling with rental affordability.

HomeShare reduces the initial cost of buying your first home and, importantly, reduces monthly repayments.

You might be able to buy your home, when otherwise you would not be able to.

Under this model of home ownership, you share the cost of buying your home with the Director of Housing. You own at least 70 per cent of your home and the director contributes the other 30 per cent, which may be the difference you need to be able to buy the home.

You can pay out the director at any time, but you must do so within 30 years.

You can qualify for HomeShare if you are prepared to buy these types of houses: A NEWLY built house A NEW house that you build on your own block of land A NEW house and land package A HOUSING Tasmania property that is advertised for sale by the department THE house you are renting if you are a tenant within a Housing Tasmania property.

The scheme also offers an essential maintenance package for purchase, which helps you with any major essential items (such as a hot water cylinder) if they fail in the first two years. This includes things like household wiring or primary heating, with a limit up to $2000.

To qualify there are a set of eligibility requirements, which you can find out about at the Expo. They are, in the main, not going to be showstoppers for most people.

The Government offers the Streets Ahead Incentive Program that helps you buy a home directly from Housing Tasmania. This is available to all public housing tenants.

Tenants who rent a Housing Tasmania property are exempt from income and asset limits under the scheme, but must have enough income to make repayments on a loan.

The scheme offers up to $12,000 to help pay your deposit, up to $500 to help pay mortgage insurance premium and $500 to legal fees. There are terms and conditions and financial counselling is available from Anglicare, who will be at the Expo.

The Expo is free and packed with exhibitors who can help with housing and budgeting assistance.

There will be children’s activities, a free BBQ and free bus services running into the city from Bridgewater via Glenorchy and Springfield/ Brooker Ave; Bridgewater via Risdon Vale and Rosny Park and Kingston Central via Taroona and Sandy Bay.

If you or someone you care about is in housing stress or needs to connect with a host of not-for-profit social assistance providers, such as Housing Connect, The Salvos, Mission Aus, Anglicare, CatholicCare and Centacare Evolve Housing then there may be a solution able to be found.

If you’re interested in giving back to your community you might want to have a chat about volunteering. The Lions Club of Glenorchy, Orange Sky, Loui’s Van, Reclink, the YMCA and other groups will be at the Expo to showcase their services. The focus is to give opportunities for people to get into housing.

Having a home is a basic human right and provides a foundation to good health, employment and productivity.

Take some time on Sunday to go to the Expo at the City Hall. See you there. Sue Hickey MHA is a Liberal Member for Clark For more information www.communities.tas.gov.au/ housingexpo.