More Tasmanians in housing squeeze

Tasmanian Labor
  • No end in sight to Tasmania’s housing crisis
  • More Tasmanians are waiting for appropriate, safe and secure housing
  • Will Hodgman and Roger Jaensch must act now, ahead of cold winter
  • New data released today shows there’s been no progress to solve Tasmania’s housing crisis.

    Shadow Minister for Housing Alison Standen said many Tasmanians are out of options for themselves and their families.

    “We are hearing from people constantly who have been on the priority housing waitlist for a year or more.

    “In the meantime, these people are living in cars or tents, couch surfing or relying on finding a bed with friends. On any given night, 1,600 Tasmanians are homeless. Without appropriate, safe and secure housing, their lives have no stable foundation.

    “In some cases, families are being torn apart because the only option for accommodation means separating the family.”

    Ms Standen said since the quarterly public housing data was last released, the number of families on the waiting list had grown again.

    “Only 90 people per quarter are being provided with housing, but the number of people on the waiting list has grown by 114.

    “Given the lack of social housing and issues with rental affordability, it’s no wonder the situation is going backwards.

    “Since the Liberals came to government public housing waiting lists have increased by more than 50 per cent, wait times for priority applicants have increased from 21 to 61 weeks, and rental affordability is the worst in the country.”

    Ms Standen said inaction by Will Hodgman and Roger Jaensch was highlighted by the December Housing Update from the University of Tasmania’s Housing and Community Research Unit.

    “The report forecasts demand for 14,200 more affordable houses by 2036, which is almost 900 every year.

    “To put that in context, the Liberals promised to build only 900 affordable homes in their first five years in Government and then failed to build even half that number.

    “Roger Jaensch must not wait until we slide into another cold Tasmanian winter to take any meaningful action to get people off the waiting list and into homes.”

    Alison Standen

    Shadow Minister for Housing

    /Public Release. View in full here.