Just 37 of the 430 social houses the state government promised to build by 2019 have been constructed.
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As the May Rental Affordability Index showed on Wednesday that Hobart was now the least affordable capital city to rent in in Australia, the government’s social housing pledge was put on the agenda in State Parliament.
In 2015, the Tasmanian government outlined its Affordable Housing Action Plan 2015-2019, a key component of which was a pledge to build 430 social houses in the state by 2019.
The Health and Human Services Department’s March 2018 quarterly housing report said the the 430 houses were on track to be built by the self-imposed deadline of June 2019.
In fact, it was forecast in the report that the government would eclipse the target by 6 additional houses.
The 430 houses will include the Somerset Elderly Units, which are expected to be completed in the coming months, four new dwellings on Flinders Island and a subdivision in Glenorchy.
Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said the government was on track to assist 1600 households into affordable housing by June 2019.
“We know there are challenges and we are working every day to address them,” he said.
But Opposition housing spokesman Josh Willie cast doubt on the government’s ability to meet its social housing target.
“Tasmanians cannot believe [Mr Jaensch] can deliver the outstanding 393 homes by June next year,” he said.
Shelter Tasmania executive officer Pattie Chugg said the housing crisis wracking the state was the failure of successive governments, not just the incumbent government.
“Successive governments have failed to invest enough in our public and community housing supply, relying instead on the private housing market to fill the gap,” Ms Chugg said.
She also said she was keen to see the promised social housing stock delivered “as soon as possible”.
“Public and community housing is the most certain way to make sure that housing stays affordable for low income people and remain a community-owned asset,” Ms Chugg said.
“The targets established by the government are welcome, however more is needed.”