The transfer, part of a trial program, is contingent on providers building 123 new community housing premises and refurbishing 30 others – which Ms Petrusma said saved the government about $33 million.

The value of the transferred titles is unknown, with Ms Petrusma telling a budget estimates hearing more details about their worth and which providers would receive the titles was to be unveiled later this year.

Both Labor Human Services spokeswoman Rebecca White and Greens leader Cassy O’Connor argued Ms Petrusma gave no evidence vulnerable Tasmanians would benefit as a result of the title transfer.

These are public assets and they are effectively being given away for a song on an untested reform,” Ms O’Connor said.

“Once these publicly funded and maintained homes are handed over, the state won't get them back and there are too few guarantees in this reform that they will remain as social housing.”

Ms White said the asset give-away was “a half-baked plan… with absolutely no guarantee that there will be any benefit for Tasmania’s most vulnerable.”

Ms Petrusma said the title transfer was necessary to ensure the new homes were built. The homes are expected to be built by June 2019.

“Title enables them to take the stock to the banks to leverage against and get extra dollars to build those houses,” she said.  Ms Petrusma stressed people living in the properties set to be transferred would not be affected.

“Labor and the Greens are starting up this unnecessary fear campaign where people who are living in Better Housing Future areas or under good organisations like the Salvation Army could be living in fear their house is going to be sold out from underneath them when that is not the case,” she said.

“If people honestly think organisations like the Salvation Army are going to go over tomorrow then that certainly goes against everything that those organisations stand for.”