Tasmanian Government Submission - INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA JULY 2020 - Parliament of Australia
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Tasmanian Government Submission
INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA
JULY 2020
20/62815
2
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
CONTENTS
1. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................3
2. Tasmanian Context .......................................................................................................................4
3. Housing and Homeless Services in Tasmania..........................................................................5
a. Strategic framework for housing in Tasmania ....................................................................................... 5
b. Early intervention and prevention of homelessness .......................................................................... 5
c. Supports for those experiencing homelessness .................................................................................. 7
d. Support for specific cohorts who are at risk of homelessness .................................................... 9
4. Data and Data Collection ......................................................................................................... 13
5. Governance and funding arrangements ................................................................................. 14
6. COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...................................................................................... 15
a COVID-19 impacts .......................................................................................................................................... 15
b Responding to COVID-19 ........................................................................................................................... 16
c Transitioning to recovery .............................................................................................................................. 18
7. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 18
3
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
1. INTRODUCTION
The Tasmanian Government welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to this Inquiry.
This submission has been prepared at an extraordinary time. The Tasmanian Government, like
others around the country and the world, is dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic and the consequences of response measures taken to protect lives.
Tasmania’s housing market has already been impacted by COVID-19, and it is anticipated that
the impacts will continue for some time. Early indications show that vacancy rates are increasing
and median rental prices are decreasing. It is unknown whether these impacts are temporary or
more permanent.
The restrictions that were put in place resulted in job losses and placed new pressures on many
individuals and households. Tasmania is yet to experience increased demand for housing and
housing support services during the pandemic, however this could change as response measures
cease (ie. income support payments).
The Tasmanian Government has sought to minimise the impacts of COVID-19 in Tasmania
through economic and social stimulus packages. As Tasmania moves from response to recovery,
there will be more work to do to assess the impacts of COVID-19 and to ensure economic
recovery and social support during recovery. Both the Tasmanian and Australian Governments
have announced measures to boost the housing sector in the early stages of recovery in
recognition that infrastructure such as housing is an important element of recovery.
Over recent years, homelessness and a lack of affordable housing has become more prominent
in Tasmania. This has been driven partly by population growth and tourism industry growth.
The Tasmanian Government, and its key stakeholders have been pursuing actions to respond to
these changing conditions. The Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025
addresses the entire housing spectrum from home ownership to affordable rental, public and
community housing, and crisis accommodation across the State. The Government has also
responded separately to surges in demand for crisis accommodation.
A suite of tax measures have been implemented by the Tasmanian Government to increase
housing supply. This includes tax relief to assist first home buyers and to encourage eligible
pensioners to downsize as well as land tax exemptions for short stay properties which convert
to long term rental and newly built homes made available for long term rental. Various planning
reforms have been pursued to facilitate new supply and to paint a clear picture of short-stay
accommodation in Tasmania whilst ensuring that the platforms and the property owners are
playing by the rules. The market has responded with more investment and new dwelling
commencements.
Tasmania’s efforts have been enhanced by funding agreements with the Australian Government.
In September 2019, the Australian Government waived Tasmania’s $157 million long-standing
housing debt. The Tasmanian Government will save $230.2 million in total interest and principal
repayments to 2041-42 (end of loan term) and will redirect these funds to programmes that
increase access to social housing, reduce homelessness, and improve housing supply across
Tasmania. The first of these funds have been allocated towards additional social housing and
increased targets for the Rapid Rehousing and Private Rental Incentives programs.
This submission addresses the Terms of Reference by outlining Tasmania’s housing and
homelessness system, work achieved to date, and the activities to be delivered over the next4
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
few years. It provides some early insights into the impacts of COVID-19 in Tasmania, and
outlines the actions to date to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic.
2. TASMANIAN CONTEXT
Prior to COVID-19, the Tasmanian economy and housing market were strong and this had an
impact on affordability with house and rental price increases, and low vacancy rates. The Real
Estate Institute of Tasmanian (REIT) December 2019 Monthly Report showed the rental
vacancy rate was 2.2 per cent and that the rental market continued to experience increases to
median rents.1
In addition to market influences, a range of social factors can also lead to housing stress and
homelessness including family violence and relationship breakdowns, unemployment and
income stress, exiting prison, mental illness as well as drug and alcohol abuse.
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that 1,622 people were experiencing
homelessness in Tasmania at the time of the 2016 Census.2 At this time, Tasmania recorded the
lowest rate of homelessness per capita across Australia with 32 persons per 10,000 persons
experiencing homelessness.3 The data also shows homelessness is increasing across Australia,
although at a slower rate in Tasmania. New data will not be available until the next Census.
The 2020 Report on Government Services (RoGS) showed that the Tasmanian Government
spends significantly more on homelessness services per capita than most Australian jurisdictions.
In 2018-19, Tasmania’s expenditure on homelessness services increased by 2.6 per cent to
$31.7 million.
The Tasmanian Government, and key stakeholders, has undertaken a range of actions to
understand and respond to market conditions and increase housing supply. These actions are
summarized in the Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025 and our
second Affordable Housing Action Plan.
Since this plan was published, the Government has made additional investments into delivering
new housing including through funds made available from the waiving of Tasmania’s housing-
related debt to the Commonwealth, to expand the capacity of some of our homeless shelters
and a further $100 million investment through the recent infrastructure package to build up to
1000 new social housing dwellings over the next three years.
The Tasmanian Government’s submission to the House of Assembly Select Committee on
Housing Affordability4 discusses market conditions in Tasmania and the Government’s response.
The Select Committee released its Final Report in February 2020, which is currently being
considered by the Tasmanian Government.
1
Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (2019), Monthly Report – December 2019.
2
ABS cat. no. 2049.0
3
Ibid.
4
Tasmanian Government (2019) Tasmanian Government Submission House of Assembly Select Committee on Housing
Affordability, available at: https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/House/HousingAffordability.htm5
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3. HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES IN TASMANIA
a. Strategic framework for housing in Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government currently provides over 12 500 social housing dwellings and assists
hundreds of Tasmanians every month with their housing needs, ranging from homelessness
services to affordable home ownership.
The Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-20255 (the Affordable Housing
Strategy) provides a framework to guide activity across the sector to improve affordable
housing and help those in most need into safe and secure accommodation. It is supported by
Tasmania’s Affordable Housing Action Plan 2015-2019 (Action Plan 1) and Tasmania’s Affordable
Housing Strategy Action Plan, 2019-2023 (Action Plan 2).
The Tasmanian Government is investing $200 million to deliver the Action Plans, which are
providing 2,400 new affordable homes and will assist around 3,600 households in need.
The Affordable Housing Strategy aims to achieve two key outcomes: a decrease in the
proportion of low income Tasmanian households experiencing housing stress (defined as
households in the bottom two income quintiles who pay more than 30 per cent of gross
income as rent); and a decrease in the proportion of Tasmanians experiencing homelessness.
Underpinning the action plans are three strategic interventions to address housing assistance
and supply across Tasmania, namely:
Preventing housing stress of low income earners by increasing the supply of affordable
homes.
Targeted early intervention to assist Tasmanians in need who are at risk of housing stress or
homelessness.
Rapid Response and Recovery aimed at people who are at immediate risk of, or currently
experiencing, homelessness to find safe and secure housing.
The strategic direction and initiatives for housing and homelessness in Tasmania are developed
with extensive consultation with the housing and homelessness sector including the peak body,
Shelter Tasmania.
The Affordable Housing Strategy has been supplemented by the funding made available from
the Australian Government releasing Tasmania from its long-standing public housing debt as
well as the stimulus measures taken by the Tasmanian Government in response to COVID-19.
b. Early intervention and prevention of homelessness
Targeted early intervention is a key element of the Affordable Housing Strategy to assist
Tasmanians who are at risk of housing stress or homelessness. This section outlines actions
taken by the Tasmanian Government to support Tasmanians into secure accommodation and
home ownership as well as broader measures taken to respond to changing market conditions.
5
Tasmanian Government (2015) Tasmania’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025, is available at:
https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/housing/tasmanian_affordable_housing_strategy6
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(i) Private Rental Incentives program
The Government runs the Private Rental Incentives Program which supports low income
households with low or no support needs into low cost private rental homes with leases up to
two years at an affordable maximum rent. Owners are offered a financial incentive to make
their property available to the scheme via a head lease to a registered community housing
provider. The scheme works by the provider entering into lease agreements with applicants
from the Housing Register. Owners are guaranteed rent for two years and any tenant damage is
repaired. At the end of the two-year lease, owners are able to offer tenants a direct lease
agreement. Tenants are eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, provided by the Australian
Government.
(ii) Home ownership assistance
Tasmania has the highest rate of home ownership in the nation. At the 2016 Census, 69.2 per
cent of dwellings were owned outright or with a mortgage compared to 65.5 per cent
nationally. The Affordable Housing Strategy commits to assist 657 more households into home
ownership by 30 June 2023, of which 351 have already been assisted under Action Plan 1. This
goal will be achieved through the delivery of the HomeShare and Streets Ahead programs:
HomeShare helps those on lower incomes by reducing the initial cost of buying a house and
the monthly cost of owning it, with the cost shared by the Director of Housing. As part of
the Government’s response to COVID-19, this program has been expanded to enable
more Tasmanians into home ownership (refer to section 6).
The Streets Ahead Incentive Program helps with the deposit, mortgage insurance and legal
costs of buying a home. The Program is available to all public housing tenants and eligible
persons purchasing Director of Housing properties that are for sale. The eligibility criteria for
includes an income sufficient to meet the costs of purchasing and owning a home.
The Tasmanian Government offers a $20,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) for eligible
applicants who buy or build a new home, where the transaction meets certain eligibility criteria.
In response to the economic impacts from COVID-19, for a limited time, the Tasmanian
Government is offering a $20,000 Tasmanian HomeBuilder Grant (THB) to eligible applicants.
The THB is available on contracts to build or buy a new home which are entered into between
4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 (inclusive).
These grants are complemented by the Australian Government’s new HomeBuilder Grant,
which will mean that eligible applicants may access $45,000 across the two schemes. By assisting
households into affordable private rental and home ownership, these measures aim to reduce
housing stress, reduce the demand for social housing and increase the overall housing supply.
(iii) Long-term Supported Accommodation Facilities in Tasmania
There are currently eight long-term Supported Accommodation Facilities (SAF) in Tasmania
with at least two more to become available by 2023. SAFs provide long-term secure
accommodation to people who need some support to maintain a tenancy. They are for men
and women 18 years and over, without children. All SAF tenants have secure leases.
(iv) Broader measures
The Tasmanian Government has implemented a suite of measures to help ease Tasmania’s
housing pressures including to incentivise increased housing supply for rent or home ownership.7
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These measures have included introducing duty concessions for first home buyers and eligible
pensioners who downsize, providing land tax exemptions to incentivise more long-term rental
properties and the Private Rental Incentive Program, which was discussed above.
Recent data shows these measures are working to support investment with Tasmania
experiencing the strongest growth in the country for dwelling approvals, commencements,
completions and work done. In 2019-20, the duty concessions have helped 1,410 first home
buyers to purchase a home, and 305 pensioners to downsize, while the FHOG has assisted
705 first home buyers.
The Tasmanian Government has introduced legislation to facilitate new public housing supply
and to respond to changing market conditions. The Housing Land Supply Act 2018 ‘fast tracks’
the rezoning of Government owned land for residential housing development. It enables the
Minister, subject to approval by both Houses of Parliament, to rezone land and set the relevant
planning provisions. This process occurs instead of the standard process under the Land Use
Planning and Approvals Act 1993 reducing the overall planning process by at least six months.
The Government has also implemented the Short Stay Accommodation Act 2019, which serves
three aims: (i) to ensure that everyone plays by the rules; (ii) to paint a clear picture of short-
stay accommodation in Tasmania; and (iii) to provide councils with the information to ensure
compliance with regulations and to make decisions based on evidence. People listing short stay
accommodation on booking platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz are now required to
demonstrate to website providers that they are complying with existing planning requirements.
In addition to these immediate reforms, the Tasmanian Government is pursuing broad-scale
reforms to the State’s land-use planning system. These reforms will deliver a more strategic,
consistent and efficient approach to land use and development into the future. These reforms
will include the preparation of a suite of State Planning Policies articulating the Government’s
priorities for the planning system to address.
c. Supports for those experiencing homelessness
Homelessness prevention, crisis accommodation and support programs operate across a
continuum of care model and therefore often overlap in scope of interventions and support on
offer. This section outlines activities to reduce housing stress and homelessness in Tasmania.
(i) Housing Connect
Housing Connect, funded by the Tasmanian Government, is the ‘front door’ to all housing
assistance. It is both an early intervention and during-tenancy support service. It provides
immediate assistance such as accessing financial assistance into the private rental market, help
completing social housing applications, referrals to supported accommodation including crisis
accommodation, and medium- or long-term supported accommodation.
People can receive an integrated service from any outlet across the State and referrals may be
made by any government, community or private organisation to Housing Connect. This may
result in clients being referred to housing support providers for housing support or referred to
specialised support for other needs such as drug and alcohol services.
The Housing Assessment Prioritisation System (HAPS) is used by Housing Connect to assess
need for medium- and long-term supported accommodation and social housing. HAPS is an
attributes-based model which determines housing need based on factors such as affordability,8
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
safety, homelessness, mobility and health. Applicants are assessed as either priority applicants
(urgent need) or general applicants (serious, but not urgent) for housing assistance
Applicants can apply for a range of accommodation and will be placed on the Housing Register.
The Housing Register is accessed by participating housing providers, including government or
community housing providers. Applicants are matched to available and suitable properties.
(ii) Better Housing Futures program
In March, 2013 the Tasmanian Government commenced the Better Housing Futures program.
This program involved transferring the management of almost 4000 Housing Tasmania owned
properties to four Community Housing Providers for a period of 10 years. These providers are
able to leverage Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA), which means that these providers can
provide improved housing because they have more ways of funding their housing services,
including maintenance. This has also provided sufficient revenues to deliver new social houses.
In March 2020, The Government announced a major policy that provides certainty over the
long term for Tasmania’s Community Housing sector and increases the supply of social housing
for people on the housing register. The Tasmanian Government will extend its current
agreements with four Community Housing Providers through to 2040, providing long term
certainty for the sector.
We also announced that we will transfer the management of a further 2000 Housing Tasmania-
owned properties, which means Community Housing Providers will access an extra $6 million
of revenue through Commonwealth Rent Assistance each year. These negotiations are
expected to commence shortly
(iii) Rapid Rehousing
Rapid Rehousing is a head leasing model that provides access to transitional accommodation
and support to quickly help people into affordable rentals. Tenants pay a subsidised rent as for
public housing and have access to specialised support. Tenancies are typically for 12 months,
and, if needed, Housing Connect will work with providers to undertake exit planning to assist
tenants to access long-term accommodation. The program aims to prevent homelessness,
increase the capacity of other services and take pressure off the Housing Register.
Three rapid rehousing models have been implemented: Family Violence Rapid Rehousing, Rapid
Rehousing – Mental Health, and Rapid Rehousing – Ex Prisoners.
(iv) Housing Accommodation Support Initiative
Housing Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) is a partnership between the Tasmanian
Department of Health, Department of Communities Tasmania, Adult Community Mental
Health Services and Colony 47. HASI aims to support people with mental illness in at-risk
tenancies to sustain their tenancies and avoid becoming homeless. It aims to support people
with persistent mental ill-health who are experiencing homelessness and require integrated
services to sustain their tenancy and transition into independent living in the community.
HASI provides services that are individualised, holistic, integrated, culturally responsive, safe and
flexible, to enable people with mental illness to remain living in the community. The primary
target group for the service is individuals who are residing in the southern region of Tasmania
and experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness and experiencing persistent mental ill-health.9
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(v) Immediate responses
Over the last two years, the Tasmanian Government has made investments to respond to
market conditions and provide more short-term accommodation. These measures build on
work being undertaken through the Affordable Housing Strategy and across Government.
In March 2018, the Government convened a Housing Summit to bring together experts in key
sectors to identify practical actions to assist Tasmanians in need. Participants identified nine
actions related to land-use planning, incentives to increase the private rental stock, and data
gathering initiatives. These actions have been incorporated into the Government’s response.
In June, 2019, the Government also announced an extra $5 million for immediate actions to
address homelessness. This included expanding the capacity of existing crisis shelters using pre-
fabricated dwellings and more funding to secure cabins, hotel and motel rooms for emergency
accommodation. This funding provided temporary relief while new housing stock was being
constructed.
The Government also purchased the former Waratah Hotel in Hobart in August 2019 to turn it
into another supported accommodation facility.
In June, 2020, in response to COVID-19, and the associated restrictions the Tasmanian
Government has announced economic and social support measures to support Tasmanians
during this period. This has included measures targeted at people experiencing homelessness
(refer to section 6).
d. Support for specific cohorts who are at risk of homelessness
The Affordable Housing Strategy brings together a range of policies and strategies for specific
population cohorts. This section outlines actions being taken by the Tasmanian Government,
and its partners, to support specific cohorts who are at risk of homelessness.
(i) Women, children and families affected by family violence
The Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2018 -20216 and Safe Homes, Families, Communities:
Tasmania’s action plan for family and sexual violence 2019-20227 include actions to support
women, children and families impacted by family violence into housing and accommodation.
In 2018-19, family violence was identified as a reason for seeking assistance from homelessness
services by 23.5 per cent of clients (1,553) in Tasmania. A lack of safe, affordable housing limits
the ability of victim-survivors (mostly women) to leave violent relationships.
Through our Affordable Housing Strategy and our immediate responses to homelessness, we
are providing new and improved crisis accommodation for women and children. In the South,
the Tasmanian Government is delivering 25 new dwellings including eight units in partnership
with CatholicCare, 10 pods at the Hobart Women’s Shelter and seven existing family dwellings
that have been leased from the University of Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government is also
progressing plans to expand Magnolia House in Launceston.
6
Tasmanian Government (2018) Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2018-2021, available at:
https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/csr/policy/Policy_Work/tasmanian_womens_strategy_2018-2021
7
Tasmanian Government (2019), Safe Homes, Families, Communities: Tasmania’s action plan for family and sexual
violence 2019-2022, available at: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/safehomesfamiliescommunities10
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
Safe at Home is Tasmania’s integrated criminal justice response to family violence, which is
underpinned by the Family Violence Act 2004. It involves a range of services working together to
support victims and children, and hold perpetrators to account.
With respect to housing, Family Violence Orders may contain clauses that prevent an offender
from returning to the home, or any other property in which the victim may reside. For rental
properties, the Family Violence Act 2004 contains provisions to terminate a tenancy agreement
and/or establish a new tenancy agreement for whoever remains at the house. Where a victim
cannot remain in their home, shelters and the Rapid Rehousing program (refer to section 3c(iii))
are available to provide support. As at 30 April 2020, 226 households affected by family
violence were housed into private rentals through the Rapid Rehousing program.
Tasmania’s efforts have been enhanced by the Keeping Women Safe in their Homes program
funded by the Australian Government under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against
Women and their Children 2010-2022. The program funds activities to enable women to feel
safe in their homes such as risk assessments, safety planning and security upgrades.
(ii) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Housing Tasmania has a portfolio of properties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
As at 31 May 2020, 218 properties were occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people. Aboriginal Tenancy Allocation Panels operate in each region of Tasmania and consider
allocations based on advice from Housing Tasmania. Applicants can apply specifically for
Aboriginal housing through the Housing Register.
Through Better Housing Futures, some properties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
people have been transferred to community housing providers. The providers continue to use
these properties for Aboriginal housing as they become vacant and on advice from the Panels.
(iii) Children and young people
Young people presenting alone accounted for 26 per cent of clients to homelessness services in
Tasmania in 2018-19.8 Additionally, there is a cohort of young people who are sleeping rough
or at risk of homelessness who are often not reflected in available data. This is increasingly being
reported as a significant issue by schools, compounding the impacts of trauma.
The Tasmanian Child and Youth Wellbeing Framework9 provides a holistic definition of
wellbeing which highlights critical factors (including material basics such as access to adequate,
stable housing) that contribute to life outcomes. All services that contribute to child and youth
wellbeing are invited to embrace and implement the Framework.
The Government has invested in a range of services and accommodation options to prevent
and respond to youth homelessness. The Youth at Risk Strategy10 is the overarching strategy
which aims to increase awareness and create alternative pathways for young people at risk.
Under this Strategy, Housing Tasmania has been providing support to help young people find
secure, safe and stable housing, increase the awareness of existing services and enhance support
8
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019), 2018-19 Specialist Homelessness Services annual report, available
at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/shs-annual-report-18-19
9
Tasmanian Government (2018), The Tasmanian Child and Youth Wellbeing Framework, available at:
https://strongfamiliessafekids.tas.gov.au/child-and-youth-wellbeing-framework
10
Tasmanian Government (2017), The Youth at Risk Strategy, available at:
https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/children/youth-at-risk-services11
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
for young people in existing accommodation services. This includes exploring new models for
accommodation for young people in rural and regional areas.
The establishment of Youth Foyers is a key strategy to enhance support for young people.
Youth Foyers are integrated learning and accommodation settings for young people (aged 16 –
24 years) who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness or are exiting out-of-home care.
Working with the community sector and mainstream services, Youth Foyers provide medium-
term accommodation (up to two years), support and engagement with education and training.
The core aim is to support young people to achieve better outcomes and to live independently.
The Youth at Risk Strategy (and Action Plan 2) includes actions to transition three current
youth supported accommodation facilities into Education-First Youth Foyers, establish new
Youth Foyers in Burnie and Hobart, and expand the Youth Foyer in Launceston (Thyne House).
A new Youth at Risk Centre will be established in Launceston, similar to Hobart’s Colville Place,
established under AHAP 1. It will provide youth crisis accommodation for up to three months
for nine young people. The Centre will work with the young person to reunite them with their
family or transition them to other accommodation, to access support services and to re-engage
in education.
The Targeted Youth Support Service (South) and Supported Youth Program (North / North-
West) supports children and young people (aged 10-18 years) who have multiple complex
needs including homelessness. The programs are delivered by community providers. Both
programs have benefited clients’ overall wellbeing, participation in the community and the
stability of their living situation.
In April 2019, the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Taskforce was established by the Tasmanian
Government to provide recommendations to address youth homelessness and improve
services for at-risk young people. A Working Group, with government and non-government
representatives, has been established to oversee immediate actions and provide advice on the
Taskforce’s longer-term recommendations. In April, 2020 the Government announced that we
will invest an additional $513,000 in services to support young people presenting at homeless
shelters, delivering on several recommendations from the Under 16 Youth Homelessness
Taskforce. Additional services will include intensive case management, outreach support and
family mediation for young people at risk of homelessness in the North, North West and South.
(iv) People exiting prison
Access to stable and suitable accommodation is a key factor in the Parole Board’s determination
of an application for parole. The absence of appropriate accommodation may result in prisoners
who would otherwise be considered suitable for parole remaining incarcerated. This situation
can be further complicated for prisoners who do not have a fixed date for release.
To address this problem, the Government has increased the options that are available to
improve access to housing for people exiting prison. The Rapid Rehousing program has 12
properties available for ex-prisoners. The initiative provides transitional accommodation (leases
of up to 12 months) at subsidised rent. Tenants are supported to reintegrate into the
community through the Beyond the Wire program, which is delivered by the Salvation Army
Tasmania.12
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Programs to support ex-prisoners have resulted from a collaboration between non-government
organisations to provide statewide access to the services provided by each organisation
(Anglicare Tasmania; CatholicCare; Colony 47; Hobart City Mission; Salvation Army Tasmania).
People exiting prison can also receive support through Housing Connect (refer to section 3c(i)).
In recent years, Housing Connect has adopted policy changes to enhance referrals, pre-release
assessments and housing suitability assessments for parole applicants. For example, requests for
housing needs assessments can now be made 30 weeks before release.
(v) Seniors
An increasing number of older people, particularly women, are experiencing homelessness in
Tasmania. The Strong Liveable Communities, Tasmania’s Active Ageing Plan Implementation Strategy
2019-2011 outlines key actions being taken across Government, and the community to support
older Tasmanians. Older women are categorised as priority applicants on the Housing Register.
Ensuring new accommodation and public housing is suitable for older people is a priority area.
All new construction is expected to meet liveability standards suitable for the notion of ‘ageing
in place’. This work also influences the ongoing review of existing housing standards.
In the South, the Government is undertaking a range of measures to meet demand. A new
50-bed facility will be constructed for elderly people on low incomes, with licences awarded to
Wintringham Specialist Aged Care. The Government is working with the Hobart City Mission
to co-invest in new homeless accommodation for older men. In addition to new supply, work
will occur to provide an in-home support service for older residents in social housing.
(vi) People living with disability
Under Action Plan 2, $20 million is quarantined to provide purpose-built homes for people
living with disability. This will ensure that people living with disability on the Housing Register
can be offered a home that is accessible and meets their needs. In 2018-19, 160 new homes
were built or purchased by the Tasmanian Government. Of these, 25 are suitable for immediate
occupation by someone with high mobility or support needs. The remainder can be customised
to meet individual needs, as required.
The development of supported accommodation for people living with disability is also a priority
area of Action Plan 2. This includes the construction of new purpose built housing, as well as
working with community providers to deliver tailored housing and support services.
(vii) People living with mental illness
In addition to providing supply, it is also important that clients living with mental illness receive
professional support such as counselling services and alcohol and drug services. In 2018-19, 30
per cent of specialist homelessness services clients had mental health issues and 10 per cent of
clients recorded problematic drug/alcohol use.12
Under Action Plan 2, the Government is working with community housing providers to deliver
a Rapid Rehousing program for people with mental illness (refer to section 3c(iii)). Another
11
Tasmanian Government (2019), Strong Liveable Communities, Tasmania’s active Ageing Plan Implementation
Strategy 2019-20, available at: https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/csr/news/tasmanias-active-ageing-plan-
implementation-strategy-2019-2020
12
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019), 2018-19 Specialist Homelessness Services annual report,
available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/shs-annual-report-18-1913
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program is HASI, which supports people with mental ill-health in public housing and community
at-risk tenancies to avoid homelessness (refer to section 3c(iv)). The Government procures
tenancy support services for tenants living with mental illness in private housing, which are also
available to public or community housing tenants.
(viii) Culturally and linguistically diverse background communities
There is specific supported accommodation available for refugees and migrants to Tasmania.
This includes properties that are leased by the Government to community organisations that
support these individuals and families. Around 30 properties were leased to Migrant Resource
Centre Tasmania to provide housing and support for refugees as at May 2020.
4. DATA AND DATA COLLECTION
Data on homelessness can be difficult to find and may not capture all people sleeping rough.
Homelessness data that is available is likely to underestimate the problem as it only relates to
those people who present to shelters. For example, it may not capture young people who are
‘couch surfing’ or those who may be living in unsafe housing or on the streets.
The most recent national homelessness data is drawn from the 2016 Census (refer section 2).
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is another key source for national data about
housing affordability and homelessness. Data are gathered through community providers.
Improved data collection is an aim of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement.
Over recent years, the Tasmanian Government has pursued measures to enhance data
collection. These measures aim to provide the Government, and its partners, with more
information about housing affordability and homelessness to inform decision-making.
Tasmania’s housing and homelessness system is supported by a range of integrated data sharing
platforms between government and non-government agencies. Housing Connect is supported
by the Specialist Homelessness Information Platform – Tasmania (SHIP-Tas) to collect, manage
and store client information. SHIP-Tas supports collaboration within the service system, helping
clients to receive more coordinated assistance and support, SHIP-Tas also supports service
outcome reporting. Clients are asked to consent to what information is held about them and
shared with service providers. Clients are able to restrict what information can be shared.
Housing Tasmania’s Housing Management System integrates housing services into one system
supporting: assessments, allocations, tenancy management, maintenance, asset management,
financials and arrangements with external housing providers. The system interfaces with
Centrelink, Service Tasmania and Housing Connect via SHIP-TAS.
In May 2019, Tasmania launched a new bond management system called MyBond. MyBond
offers 24/7 online access for property managers, owners, tenants and deposit contributors. The
new system allows electronic bond lodgement, change of details and bond claims. Following
stakeholder consultation, additional functions and enhancements will be added over time such
as improved reporting options for auditing purposes. Over time, MyBond will enable a better
understanding of the private rental market in Tasmania.
The Short Stay Accommodation Act 2019 has created a data sharing partnership with booking
platforms. The data sharing partnership will provide better evidence to the Government about
the impact of short stay accommodation in Tasmania. The quality of data will improve over time14
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as the reporting requirements and data collection processes are refined. The second report
(July 2020) provides data for 5,054 properties listed during the first quarter of 2020.
The Department of Communities Tasmania’s website is updated regularly to provide timely
information about housing and homelessness initiatives. The Tasmanian Government releases
quarterly housing reports that outline updated housing and homelessness data, progress made
under Action Plan 2 and case studies. The most recent report was released in March 2020. The
Human Services Dashboard is regularly updated to provide headline indicators and supporting
statistics across human services including housing data.
5. GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS
The Affordable Housing Strategy recognises that all levels of government, the community sector
and private sector have a role to play in Tasmania’s housing and homelessness system.
The Tasmanian Government has allocated $200 million to the Affordable Housing Action Plans
to support the Affordable Housing Strategy between 2015 and 2023. As outlined above, further
funding has been allocated to additional measures across the housing and homelessness system.
The Housing and Homelessness Service System is funded by the Tasmanian Government and
directed by Housing Programs; a branch of the Department of Communities Tasmania. Other
government agencies also implement policies and programs relevant to the housing sector.
The private sector continues to invest and develop new housing supply. The non-government
sector and community providers play a crucial role in delivering housing and housing support.
The Australian Government is a core partner in tackling housing stress and homelessness. The
Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement is the primary funding mechanism for the provision
of funding from the Australian Government to the State. It is providing funding of $230.2 million
(up to 2041-42) to increase access to social housing, reduce homelessness and improve supply.
The National Housing and Homelessness Agreement provides around $1.5 billion each year to
the states and territories for affordable housing. It includes $125 million for homelessness
services each year. Under the Agreement, Tasmania receives around $33 million per annum. Of
this, around $19 million is provided for social housing, and $14 million is provided for
homelessness services.
As noted previously, in September 2019 the Australian Government waived Tasmania’s
$157 million housing-related debt. As a result, the Tasmanian Government will save $230.2
million in total interest and principal repayments through to 2041-42. These funds have been
allocated towards additional social housing and increased targets for the Rapid Rehousing and
Private Rental Incentives programs.
During COVID-19, the Australian Government provided additional funding to the states and
territories to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. This included funding to support health
responses and funding to meet increasing demand for core services (ie. family violence
responses and legal assistance). This funding was crucial to bolstering response measures.
The Tasmanian Government’s response to COVID-19 is outlined at section 6.
Local government is key partner in responding to market conditions and supporting housing.
The Tasmania Government is partnering with the City of Hobart in preparing a Central Hobart
Precincts Plan to set out the future directions for the city core and immediately surrounding15
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
areas which includes consideration of development of housing and residential infill and changes
to planning regulations to facilitate higher densities.
City Deals in Tasmania have generated new partnerships across the three tiers of government.
The Tasmanian and Australian Governments are working closely with local governments to
implement local responses to housing and homelessness issues. The Tasmanian Government
has entered into partnerships with the Australian Government and local governments under the
Launceston City Deal and the Hobart City Deal.
The Launceston City Deal includes housing initiatives focusing on in-fill development in the
Central Business District and assisting the private sector to redevelop sites for residential use.
The City of Hobart has been very active in developing local responses to homelessness in the
region. It has actively engaged with Housing Connect to explore levels of homelessness. The
Hobart City Deal includes $30 million from the Australian Government for projects to deliver
new dwellings in partnership with community housing providers. These activities build on the
work underway to boost housing supply in the Greater Hobart region in Action Plan 2.
The City of Hobart has established a Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance to develop
housing projects and solutions for the region. This group has played a key role in establishing
Hobart’s Safe Night Space for emergency housing, which is delivered by Hobart City Mission
and the Salvation Army. This service model has recently been expanded to Safe Spaces (24/7
services) and will be rolled out statewide and supported by Tasmanian Government funding.
6. COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
The Tasmanian Government made some tough decisions to protect the health of Tasmanians
from COVID-19. This included introducing some of the toughest border controls and other
restrictions in Australia. This section outlines early insights about the impacts of COVID-19 to
Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government’s response and recovery efforts to date.
a COVID-19 impacts
The impacts of COVID-19 and associated restrictions to the Tasmanian economy and people’s
lives are evolving. There is, therefore, limited availability of data that shows the impact of
COVID-19 on housing and homelessness. As recovery continues there will be more
opportunities to explore the potential impacts.
Short term indicators related to economic issues and housing availability are only beginning to
show trends in relation to COVID-19. Tasmania is already seeing changes in the rental market,
particularly in Hobart. Early indications from SQM Research show an increase in vacancy rates in
Hobart from 0.8 per cent in March 2020 to 1.4 per cent in April 2020. The most recent
Domain Rent Report, released on 9 April 2020, indicates that a significant number of houses
have been transferred from the short-stay accommodation market to the long-term rental pool.
It is expected that these properties will continue to transfer into the rental market, further
adding to housing supply. It should be noted that most of the new rental properties have been
in more affluent suburbs and it is too early to tell if the increase in overall supply of rental
properties will help ease prices overall.
Tasmanians have lost their jobs and income due to COVID-19. ABS Labour Force indicators
show that unemployment in Tasmania increased from 5.1 per cent in March 2020 to16
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
6.1 per cent in April 2020. The Australian Government’s income support measures (JobKeeper
and Jobseeker Payments, fortnightly Coronavirus Supplement and one-off household support
payments) have helped to relieve financial and housing stress.
Initial analysis of Tasmania’s Housing Register shows a decline in the number of applicants since
the end of March 2020. It is unknown if this decline is associated with fewer people needing
housing assistance, or fewer people actively expressing need (eg. accessing services or updating
their applications). Anecdotally, shelters are not reporting increased presentations to services
but appear to be accommodating clients for an average longer number of nights.
While early indicators show no increase in demand for housing and homelessness services, this
may change as income support measures and other response measures are discontinued and
subject to economic conditions. This could lead to increased homelessness and housing stress.
The University of Tasmania has established The Tasmania Project, which seeks to gather insights
and data related to the impact of COVID-19. This research has found that some Tasmanians
have had to make adjustments to meet housing costs. The most recent survey (July 2020)
showed that 61 per cent of respondents selected affordable housing as a way to improve life in
Tasmania. This work is a useful resource to assess the impacts of COVID-19 in Tasmania.
Housing affordability and economic indicators will continue to be monitored to explore long-
term impacts of COVID-19 and necessary response measures. This includes data on housing
affordability such as house prices, rent prices and rental vacancies and demand for services.
b Responding to COVID-19
The Tasmanian Government has introduced two social and economic support stimulus
packages in response to COVID-19. The two packages, which total $1 billion, complement the
Australian Government’s multi-billion dollar response. The packages comprise initiatives to
support health, businesses and jobs, households and individuals, and the community.
The Tasmanian Government has made available additional funding to support people who are
experiencing homelessness and housing stress during the pandemic. The Government has also
announced measures across the broader housing sector including a commitment to continuing
to build new housing supply.
The Government has not increased rent for social housing, and will not count Australian and
Tasmanian Governments’ emergency payments as income in calculating rent contributions. This
has assisted around 11,500 social housing tenants at a cost of around $6.7 million.
Under the first package, $4.3 million was provided for additional housing and homelessness
support. The funding provides for uncapped brokerage to access emergency accommodation in
hotels, motels and cabins to provide immediate accommodation for people who are homeless.
Additionally, mental health clinicians will be providing in-reach support to homeless clients of
Housing Connect who are assisted into emergency brokered accommodation.
Funding was provided to expand the Safe Night Space for rough sleepers in the South to a 24/7
model involving essential services including the provision of meals, showers, laundry, lockers,
charging stations and network access, as well as implementing these models in Launceston and
Burnie.17
TASMANIAN GOVERNMENT SUBMISSION
The Housing Connect Steering Committee is exploring models of accommodation that will
provide the best outcomes for clients, such as dispersed or medium density accommodation.
Additional support services will be implemented for young people at risk of homelessness
including intensive case management, outreach support and family mediation. These actions
deliver on several recommendations from the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Taskforce.
The Government has established the Mental Health Homelessness Outreach Support Team,
which has been funded for six months. This will inform a homelessness mental health team to
be established as part of the implementation of new service models under the Tasmanian
Mental Health Reform Program into the future.
Additional funding was provided to family violence services to respond to changing demand.
This includes: $1.9 million to expand efforts through Safe at Home; $260,000 to expand the
Family Violence Rapid Rehousing program; $310,000 to community-based specialist family
violence support services and $100,000 for primary prevention awareness raising efforts.
This funding also included $100,000 for flexible support packages. These packages provide
financial assistance to victims of family violence who have left or are intending to leave an
abusive relationship. A number of these packages have been used to assist victims to move to
new properties/maintain new properties through the provision of essential furniture items, costs
associated with connecting services such as electricity, stocking fridges and pantries in order to
support the victim using their money for bond/rent, reducing the risk of homelessness. The
Australian Government has also made available additional funding for family violence responses
under the National Partnership: COVID-19 Domestic and Family Violence Responses.
The Tasmanian Government introduced measures to help renters during COVID-19. The
Residential Tenancy Act 1997 was amended to protect residential tenants, particularly those
experiencing hardship from a loss of income due to COVID-19. This included an initial 120 day
moratorium on evicting tenants for failing to pay their rent.
On 3 April 2020, the Tasmanian Government issued a Notice under the COVID-19 Disease
Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 to prevent residential rental evictions, meaning
that evictions cannot occur for at least 90 days. On 23 April 2020, a Notice was issued to
prevent residential rent increases until at least 30 June 2020. On 23 June 2020, the Government
further extended these measures, with some minor exceptions, to 30 September 2020.
The Tasmanian Government announced the COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund that provides a one-
off payment made directly to the landlord. This happens only after a landlord enters into an
approved temporary arrangement with their tenant to reduce the rent. The Fund is only
available in cases of extreme hardship where other forms of financial assistance are not
sufficient. Assistance is capped at four weeks rent, to a maximum of $2,000 (whichever is
lower). As at 26 June 2020, the Tasmanian Government had paid rental relief of $161,000 on
behalf of 195 tenants. A further 721 applications are were being assessed at this time.
The Tasmanian Government has provided other support to relieve cost of living pressures. For
example, it has waived all Tasmanian Government school debts for 2019 and prior as well as
waiving all 2020 Tasmanian Government school levies at a cost of more than $17 million.
These measures have eased some of the pressures placed on individuals and households during
this period. The Tasmanian Government recognises that housing and homelessness services will
be an ongoing priority as part of recovery.18
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c Transitioning to recovery
The Tasmanian Government has commenced the recovery phase, with no new cases recorded
since 17 May 2020. Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania13 sets out Tasmania’s roadmap to
recovery including core safeguards and three stages to easing restrictions. The plan identifies
economic recovery and social support during recovery as the two distinct areas of recovery
required to rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
A dedicated Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council has been established to
provide advice to the Government on strategies and initiatives to support the short to medium
and the longer term recovery from COVID-19. The Council is made up of individuals from
across the business and community sectors.
Housing will play an important role in economic and social recovery. On 4 June 2020, the
Tasmanian Government announced its Rebuilding Tasmania Infrastructure Investment program
which included the following initiatives:
1,000 Social Housing Dwellings: an additional $100 million under new agreements with
Community Housing Providers to deliver up to an additional 1,000 new social houses.
Fast tracking 220 Affordable Houses: the bringing forward of funding of $14 million and new
funding of $10 million to deliver 220 social houses by 2022 – a year earlier than planned.
Expansion of the HomeShare Program: income and asset eligibility limits will be increased to
enable more households to access the Program. The Government equity contribution has
also been increased to a maximum of $100,000 per house. It is estimated uptake will result
in 150 home purchases including 75 new builds over two years.
Tasmanian HomeBuilder Grant: it will provide new eligible owner occupier home builders
with $20,000 towards the cost of a new build or the purchase of new house and land
package. This grant will complement the Australian Government’s HomeBuilder program.
Pandemic response and recovery will also include additional social housing maintenance, new
Government building projects and infrastructure, and further expansion of the Private Rental
Incentive program. These response measures complement existing efforts across Tasmania.
7. CONCLUSION
The Tasmanian Government continues to deliver initiatives across the housing system to
support housing affordability and respond to homelessness. As outlined in this submission, a
large body of work has occurred in recent years, and further actions will be implemented.
Through Action Plan 2 the Tasmanian Government, and its partners, will deliver of more supply
including affordable housing and crisis accommodation as well as further support to those at risk
of or experiencing homelessness.
The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions caused major disruptions in Tasmania.
The Tasmanian Government acted quickly to contain the spread of the virus and implemented
tough restrictions to protect Tasmanians. These actions have had consequences and altered the
way of life for all Tasmanians. As part of the response, it was important that the Government
provided economic and social support through this challenging time.
13
Tasmanian Government (2020) Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania, available at:
http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/535115/Our_Plan_to_Rebuild_a_Stronger_Tasmania.pdfYou can also read
