Night space plan a step closer after funds boost

A SAFE night space for Hobart’s homeless population looks set to open early in the new year after the State Government announced funding for the pilot program.

An initiative of the Salvation Army and Hobart City Mission, the Safe Night Space will be a place where men and women who are vulnerable, isolated and homeless in Hobart can drop in for rest, food and water overnight.

Staff and volunteers will help connect people with housing, mental health, and drug and alcohol services.

Hobart City Mission chief executive John Stubley said last month that $450,000 was needed to run the six-month pilot program.

With $175,000 raised since then, Human Services Minister Roger Jaensch yesterday announced the State Government will contribute $150,000 for the program. “The Hodgman Government welcomes opportunities to partner with organisations like Hobart City Mission, the Salvation Army and Hobart City Council and back local leadership on local solutions to specific needs that aren’t being met through existing programs,” he said.

“The Safe Night Space pilot is just such an initiative – a bottom-up response to the needs of people sleeping rough in our city who can’t, for various reasons, make use of the shelters and other supports available in the area.”

Mr Stubley said the space would initially be able to cater for 10-12 people and it was hoped the doors would open by early January once the final funding had been secured.

He urged the community to dig deep and help raise the final $125,000 needed.

“Working in this sector you do hear people’s stories and come to understand their circumstance as to how they become homeless and we can think it’s through substance abuse but it’s not – it is through trauma and circumstances that could arise in anyone’s life,” he said.

The Salvation Army’s Don McCrae said his team had spoken to the people who will be using it on a nightly basis.

“A lot of the people we’re working with have disengaged for a number of reasons to generic supports – not just housing and emergency accommodation but also primary health, allied health,” he said.

“One of the beauties of this program is there will be a number of support services who’ve come along to work alongside us – primary health, podiatry, mental health, domestic violence, drug and alcohol support and services such as Orange Sky laundry.”

The Safe Night Space will be located at the Youth ARC Centre on the corner of Collins St and Market Place.