Lambie goes in to fight for Hobart safe space

TASMANIAN senator Jacqui Lambie has launched a petition calling on Canberra to provide funding to get Hobart’s pilot safe night space project up and running before Christmas.

Safe night spaces give those sleeping rough somewhere safe to store their possessions, watch a movie, play a board game, get something to eat and drink, or just rest with a warm blanket.

The spaces also connect homeless people to support services. Hobart City Mission and the Salvation Army have a location picked out and are fundraising to raise the $450,000 needed to open.

But Senator Lambie says there is no time to waste and the federal and state governments should chip in immediately.

“There’s a project proposal on the table and all they’re needing is a cheque,” she said in the petition.

“The timeline is ambitious but it’s necessary.

“We have less than a month of parliament before the Christmas break and organisers will need a few weeks after getting the money to get the doors open.

“We haven’t got months to get this done, we have days.”

The charities say the homeless crisis in Hobart has reached unprecedented levels and the number of people sleeping rough has gone well past acceptable levels.

Charities estimate there are around 70 people in Hobart sleeping rough any given night.

“While a safe night space is not a long-term solution, it will provide basic services to rough sleepers,” Hobart City Mission says.

The model has not been run in Hobart before and the trial will be reviewed after six months to ensure the safe night space is meeting the needs of those who use it.

Hobart City Mission chief executive John Stubley told the Mercury last month the project could not start without the money.

“We’re talking to the [State] Government for support – it might seem like a lot of money for a six-month trial, but it’s a new program and if anything we need to be over-resourced in the early days,” Mr Stubley said.

A suitable location has been identified, with Hobart City Council providing the location and associated costs free of charge.

Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds called for some of the money saved by Tasmania through the wiping of its housing debt to be directed towards the safe night space project.