Roger Jaensch,Minister for Housing
The Tasmanian Government is delivering on our commitment to reduce homelessness and housing stress across Tasmania with 18 temporary accommodation units now operational at Bethlehem House.
The units have been delivered as part of the Government's $5 million Emergency Homeless Response announced last year to provide more emergency and short-term accommodation for Tasmanians doing it tough.
The units were installed earlier this year, offering a safe space for men experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless. They will complement the 10 two-bedroom accommodation pods now operational at the Hobart Women's Shelter and the 7 additional family units managed by the Shelter.
These services will ensure some of our most vulnerable can access a secure place to sleep and the services they need to assist them into secure accommodation, and adds to other initiatives to alleviate homelessness and housing stress across the state.
This includes our recent $4.3 million investment to provide additional homelessness support through the COVID-19 emergency that has delivered 24-hour Safe Spaces in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, as well as uncapped emergency accommodation brokerage and support services.
We are also continuing to increase the supply of affordable and social housing across the state, with the June Quarterly Housing Report confirming almost 700 households were assisted with their housing needs over the first year of the Government's second Affordable Housing Action Plan.
We are continuing the momentum with around 150 more homes currently under construction and contracts for another 300 under negotiation, along with our Rebuilding Tasmania plan supporting and underpinning $3.1 billion in construction activity, including delivery of up to 1000 additional social houses, on top of our previous targets.
We will continue doing all we can to help our most vulnerable and increase the supply of social housing throughout the state as we rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
