Housing crisis worsens further under Jaensch

Tasmanian Labor

· Simply no properties affordable for some Tasmanians

· Jaensch must provide update on how many of promised 900 homes have been built

A new report has laid bare the dire state of Tasmania's housing crisis under the Hodgman Government and Housing Minister Roger Jaensch.

An Anglicare Tasmania report has revealed Tasmanian pensioners are being forced into share houses due to a lack of rentals available, while single people on Youth Allowance or Newstart would not be able to afford any available properties listed.

Shadow Housing Minister Alison Standen said Minister Jaensch was failing the thousands of Tasmanians who are struggling to pay the rent and facing potential homelessness by not delivering promised housing stock.

"Minister Jaensch must today provide an update of how many actual properties he has built since last July when he promised 900 houses would be completed by this June," Ms Standen said.

"Can Minister Jaensch confirm that less than 300 of his promised 900 have so far been completed?

"It's appalling that despite all the promises and despite all the spin, families are still having to wait more than a year for a home when this government just five years ago inherited a record low wait time of 20 weeks.

"For the first time, it costs more to rent a house in Hobart than it does in Melbourne in absolute terms.

"On any given night 1,600 Tasmanians are homeless and many other families are couch surfing, relying on their friends and families or living in sheds, cars or tents.

"Those Tasmanians who have been left out in the cold this winter by the Hodgman Government don't want to see glossy brochures, they want to see real action to solve the housing crisis."

Alison Standen MP

Shadow Housing Minister

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