Three meetings, to be held in Hobart, Launceston, and Devonport, were announced by Housing Minister Roger Jaensch last week.

TasCOSS chief executive Kim Goodes said the meetings were an important step for hearing the voices of those on the ground in the community sector.

“It is critical that these voices are part of the co-design of the next stage of the Affordable Housing Strategy,” Ms Goodes said.

She acknowledged that there had been “major challenges” meeting targets and deadlines in the stage one roll out of the plan, but future consultation will be a chance to address the causes of these.

“There is no doubt there has been major challenges in meeting the targets and deadlines over the last four years. 

“A range of factors have impacted and this has put many Tasmanians into uncertainty. 

“The consultation on the second stage Affordable Housing Strategy provides a critical opportunity to learn what hasn’t worked to ensure the supply of housing stock in the next three years is strategically target to high need population groups and geographical communities of need.” 

Shelter Tas executive officer Pattie Chugg said the peak body for housing and homelessness services in Tasmania also welcomed the meetings.

“This is an important step,” she said.

“Our members include the state’s homelessness services and community housing providers, and many will be attending the sessions in each region.”

Ms Chug suggested the next stage of the government’s plan needed to consider changes to the housing market, specifically the “expensive and competitive private rental market.”

In the announcement last week both Mr Jaensch and deputy secretary of Housing, Disability and Community Services Peter White flagged key groups that were currently “under catered” to.

Mr White said young people and those on Newstart were some of the key target groups, while accessible housing for people with disabilities and older residents was another.

The community sector has been focused on seeing a break down of the current housing list to better understand the groups in need, according to Ms Goodes. 

“Young people for example who are living independently and often looking for employment require specific transport and service support nearby,” she said.

“We also know that older women are more frequently experiencing homelessness and this group will also have specific needs to ensure they can stay connected to social and family networks and access to employment opportunities.”

Ms Chugg said gaps in the current housing market their members had identified also included older Tasmanians and young people, but also single men – specifically in the state’s North West – and parents with part time care seeking to unify with children but requiring more bedrooms to do so.

Disability advocate Kristen Desmond also welcomed news of the discussions – and a focus on people with disability – though said it would be critical that the people who would be living in the houses be given a chance to voice their needs.

“It is very good to see that is being made a priority,” she said.

“It may seem obvious, but often they’re left out of that discussion.”

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