Cecily Rosol | Lead Candidate for Bass
Homelessness in Launceston has grown dramatically, with the number of people without adequate accommodation increasing by 87 per cent between 2016 and 2021.
With a quarter of Tasmanians experiencing homelessness aged between 12 and 24, more than ever Launceston’s young people are being left vulnerable and in traumatic environments.
This mirrors information in a report released today from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare that shows between 2014 and 2017 341 young people leaving care and protection orders presented to homelessness services, and half did not receive any accommodation as a result.
Urgent action is needed to address this crisis, which is why the Greens will fight to tackle youth homelessness and fight for those battling a housing system which is worsening inequality for our young people.
“Young people in Launceston today are experiencing an incredibly different economic situation to older generations. Our young people’s lives were disproportionately disrupted by Covid-19, and they now face an increasingly complex world that has left too many vulnerable and in traumatic environments.
“The Greens understand the need for action on youth homelessness, and a big increase in dedicated support for young people. Our plan is to establish a youth homelessness strategy, to invest in improving support services, and to fund more housing and accommodation for young people.
“As a foster carer I’ve seen firsthand the incredible uphill battle young people face when they transition from out of home care into independent living, they lack many of the supports most people take for granted and are at high risk of becoming homeless. Something has to change.
“We don’t need a billion-dollar stadium in Hobart, we need to address critical issues like youth homelessness in Launceston.
“In order to ensure appropriate housing options for young people we also need to fight to tackle the big issues driving the housing crisis – by building more public homes, putting limits on rent increases, and bringing AirBnBs back into the rental market.
“Right now our housing system is broken, and it’s young people who are copping the worst of it.Tasmania has some of the weakest tenant protections in the country. Renters are vulnerable to unmitigated rent increases, have very few rights, and landlords’ ability to evict them on lease expiration without reason means they’re often unable to defend their rights.
“For decades governments have rigged the private housing market in favour of big developers and rich property investors and our current housing system is now worsening inequality for our young people – it’s time to change it.”
The Greens plan to tackle youth homelessness can be found here and our plan for fair rights for renters can be found here.
