Another 15 one- and two-bedroom units are now available for vulnerable older men in need with the official opening of a new crisis accommodation facility following a $2.4 million investment by the Rockliff Liberal Government.
Hobart City Mission has officially opened a new facility in Rokeby offering safe and secure accommodation and support for vulnerable older men.
Minister for Housing and Construction, Nic Street, congratulated Hobart City Mission for their delivery of these 15 new units providing homes for men in need.
“Hobart City Mission do wonderful work in everything that they do to help and support vulnerable Tasmanians and I look forward to our continued collaboration with Hobart City Mission on many more projects into the future,” Minister Street said.
“This development includes eight social housing units and seven units of crisis accommodation, three of which are suitable for people with disability, helping address a service gap in the provision of supported accommodation for older men.
“Our Government, through Homes Tasmania, provided $2.4 million in funding for these new units, which resulted in an injection of nearly $7 million into the local economy.
“The remaining costs of approximately $1 million were funded by Hobart City Mission through donations and a large bequest.”
The units were built by Centacare Evolve Housing’s building and construction social enterprise St Joseph Affordable Homes, which employed nearly 30 apprentices on the project.
The facility will be managed by Hobart City Mission through its new ‘Coming Home’ program, which provides a long-term home and supportive community for older men who have been experiencing homelessness.
The service includes an on-site support worker to help tenants settle in and connect them with important services and community groups.
Liberal Member for Franklin, Dean Young said that the Rockliff Liberal Government recognises that older Tasmanians can be particularly vulnerable to homelessness.
“Our Government is committed to building more accommodation and providing more supports to improve the housing security, health and wellbeing of older Tasmanians,” Mr Young said.
“These new units add to our work to deliver more accommodation for men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
“This includes Bethlehem House, which is a $20 million, 50-bed crisis and supported accommodation facility in Hobart and an eight-unit men’s shelter in Devonport that will cater for men with or without children, both of which will be opening soon.
“Every Tasmanian deserves a roof over their head and our plan to build more houses sooner is critical to improving the lives of vulnerable Tasmanians.”
The Rockliff Liberal Government is implementing the most ambitious long-term housing plan in the State’s history backed by our commitment to deliver 10,000 more social and affordable homes by 2032.
Through Homes Tasmania, we have already delivered 2,878 homes and have a further 860 new social housing, supported accommodation and crisis accommodation projects in the construction pipeline as at 30 September 2023.
