The organisation surveyed 1200 Tasmanians for its annual report and found 208 of them had experienced homelessness – or 17.3 per cent of those surveyed.

The rate was 15.6 per cent nationally. Of the Tasmanian respondents, 8.8 per cent said they had experienced a time with no fixed address or time living in a refuge or transitional housing in the past year, 18.4 per cent experienced homelessness without a parent or guardian, and 12.1 per cent experienced couch surfing.

Labor housing spokesman Josh Willie questioned the government’s progress in providing transitional or permanent properties for young Tasmanians experiencing homelessness.

“Tasmania is experiencing a housing crisis which means there is a critical shortage of housing supply and young people are vulnerable as they are on low incomes (and) insecure employment,” he said.

“We would like to see some targeted youth support in the (Housing Affordability Strategy).”

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch said the government had opened a nine-unit youth facility in Moonah and 25-unit youth accommodation facility in Devonport.

“We are also finalising contracts for the delivery of 20 backyard units designed to provide options for young people who need to move out of home and who may otherwise become homeless,” he said.

“In 2018-19, our investment in affordable housing will more than double the previous year and our long-term plan will provide an additional 1500 new affordable homes for Tasmanians.”

The government, during the election campaign, committed to extending out-of-home care to young people aged up to 21 years old.

In its report, Mission Australia urged the adoption of a national homelessness strategy.

According to the most recent Census data, more than 43,500 children and young people in Australia were homeless. It was reported almost one quarter of Australia’s homeless population were aged between 12 and 24.