Tasmanian Government Submission - INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA JULY 2020 - Parliament of Australia

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Tasmanian Government Submission - INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA JULY 2020 - Parliament of Australia
Tasmanian Government Submission
      INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA

      JULY 2020

20/62815
Tasmanian Government Submission - INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA JULY 2020 - Parliament of Australia
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        CONTENTS

           1.        Introduction ....................................................................................................................................3

           2.        Tasmanian Context .......................................................................................................................4

           3.        Housing and Homeless Services in Tasmania..........................................................................5
                a.    Strategic framework for housing in Tasmania ....................................................................................... 5
                b.    Early intervention and prevention of homelessness .......................................................................... 5
                c.    Supports for those experiencing homelessness .................................................................................. 7
                d.    Support for specific cohorts who are at risk of homelessness .................................................... 9

           4.        Data and Data Collection ......................................................................................................... 13

           5.        Governance and funding arrangements ................................................................................. 14

           6.     COVID-19 Response and Recovery ...................................................................................... 15
                a  COVID-19 impacts .......................................................................................................................................... 15
                b Responding to COVID-19 ........................................................................................................................... 16
                c  Transitioning to recovery .............................................................................................................................. 18

           7.        Conclusion ................................................................................................................................... 18
Tasmanian Government Submission - INQUIRY INTO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA JULY 2020 - Parliament of Australia
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        1. INTRODUCTION
        The Tasmanian Government welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to this Inquiry.
        This submission has been prepared at an extraordinary time. The Tasmanian Government, like
        others around the country and the world, is dealing with the impacts of the COVID-19
        pandemic and the consequences of response measures taken to protect lives.
        Tasmania’s housing market has already been impacted by COVID-19, and it is anticipated that
        the impacts will continue for some time. Early indications show that vacancy rates are increasing
        and median rental prices are decreasing. It is unknown whether these impacts are temporary or
        more permanent.
        The restrictions that were put in place resulted in job losses and placed new pressures on many
        individuals and households. Tasmania is yet to experience increased demand for housing and
        housing support services during the pandemic, however this could change as response measures
        cease (ie. income support payments).
        The Tasmanian Government has sought to minimise the impacts of COVID-19 in Tasmania
        through economic and social stimulus packages. As Tasmania moves from response to recovery,
        there will be more work to do to assess the impacts of COVID-19 and to ensure economic
        recovery and social support during recovery. Both the Tasmanian and Australian Governments
        have announced measures to boost the housing sector in the early stages of recovery in
        recognition that infrastructure such as housing is an important element of recovery.
        Over recent years, homelessness and a lack of affordable housing has become more prominent
        in Tasmania. This has been driven partly by population growth and tourism industry growth.
        The Tasmanian Government, and its key stakeholders have been pursuing actions to respond to
        these changing conditions. The Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025
        addresses the entire housing spectrum from home ownership to affordable rental, public and
        community housing, and crisis accommodation across the State. The Government has also
        responded separately to surges in demand for crisis accommodation.
        A suite of tax measures have been implemented by the Tasmanian Government to increase
        housing supply. This includes tax relief to assist first home buyers and to encourage eligible
        pensioners to downsize as well as land tax exemptions for short stay properties which convert
        to long term rental and newly built homes made available for long term rental. Various planning
        reforms have been pursued to facilitate new supply and to paint a clear picture of short-stay
        accommodation in Tasmania whilst ensuring that the platforms and the property owners are
        playing by the rules. The market has responded with more investment and new dwelling
        commencements.
        Tasmania’s efforts have been enhanced by funding agreements with the Australian Government.
        In September 2019, the Australian Government waived Tasmania’s $157 million long-standing
        housing debt. The Tasmanian Government will save $230.2 million in total interest and principal
        repayments to 2041-42 (end of loan term) and will redirect these funds to programmes that
        increase access to social housing, reduce homelessness, and improve housing supply across
        Tasmania. The first of these funds have been allocated towards additional social housing and
        increased targets for the Rapid Rehousing and Private Rental Incentives programs.
        This submission addresses the Terms of Reference by outlining Tasmania’s housing and
        homelessness system, work achieved to date, and the activities to be delivered over the next
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        few years. It provides some early insights into the impacts of COVID-19 in Tasmania, and
        outlines the actions to date to respond to, and recover from, the COVID-19 pandemic.

        2. TASMANIAN CONTEXT
        Prior to COVID-19, the Tasmanian economy and housing market were strong and this had an
        impact on affordability with house and rental price increases, and low vacancy rates. The Real
        Estate Institute of Tasmanian (REIT) December 2019 Monthly Report showed the rental
        vacancy rate was 2.2 per cent and that the rental market continued to experience increases to
        median rents.1
        In addition to market influences, a range of social factors can also lead to housing stress and
        homelessness including family violence and relationship breakdowns, unemployment and
        income stress, exiting prison, mental illness as well as drug and alcohol abuse.
        Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data shows that 1,622 people were experiencing
        homelessness in Tasmania at the time of the 2016 Census.2 At this time, Tasmania recorded the
        lowest rate of homelessness per capita across Australia with 32 persons per 10,000 persons
        experiencing homelessness.3 The data also shows homelessness is increasing across Australia,
        although at a slower rate in Tasmania. New data will not be available until the next Census.
        The 2020 Report on Government Services (RoGS) showed that the Tasmanian Government
        spends significantly more on homelessness services per capita than most Australian jurisdictions.
        In 2018-19, Tasmania’s expenditure on homelessness services increased by 2.6 per cent to
        $31.7 million.
        The Tasmanian Government, and key stakeholders, has undertaken a range of actions to
        understand and respond to market conditions and increase housing supply. These actions are
        summarized in the Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025 and our
        second Affordable Housing Action Plan.
        Since this plan was published, the Government has made additional investments into delivering
        new housing including through funds made available from the waiving of Tasmania’s housing-
        related debt to the Commonwealth, to expand the capacity of some of our homeless shelters
        and a further $100 million investment through the recent infrastructure package to build up to
        1000 new social housing dwellings over the next three years.
        The Tasmanian Government’s submission to the House of Assembly Select Committee on
        Housing Affordability4 discusses market conditions in Tasmania and the Government’s response.
        The Select Committee released its Final Report in February 2020, which is currently being
        considered by the Tasmanian Government.

        1
          Real Estate Institute of Tasmania (2019), Monthly Report – December 2019.
        2
          ABS cat. no. 2049.0
        3
          Ibid.
        4
          Tasmanian Government (2019) Tasmanian Government Submission House of Assembly Select Committee on Housing
        Affordability, available at: https://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/ctee/House/HousingAffordability.htm
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        3. HOUSING AND HOMELESS SERVICES IN TASMANIA
        a.      Strategic framework for housing in Tasmania
        The Tasmanian Government currently provides over 12 500 social housing dwellings and assists
        hundreds of Tasmanians every month with their housing needs, ranging from homelessness
        services to affordable home ownership.
        The Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-20255 (the Affordable Housing
        Strategy) provides a framework to guide activity across the sector to improve affordable
        housing and help those in most need into safe and secure accommodation. It is supported by
        Tasmania’s Affordable Housing Action Plan 2015-2019 (Action Plan 1) and Tasmania’s Affordable
        Housing Strategy Action Plan, 2019-2023 (Action Plan 2).
        The Tasmanian Government is investing $200 million to deliver the Action Plans, which are
        providing 2,400 new affordable homes and will assist around 3,600 households in need.
        The Affordable Housing Strategy aims to achieve two key outcomes: a decrease in the
        proportion of low income Tasmanian households experiencing housing stress (defined as
        households in the bottom two income quintiles who pay more than 30 per cent of gross
        income as rent); and a decrease in the proportion of Tasmanians experiencing homelessness.
        Underpinning the action plans are three strategic interventions to address housing assistance
        and supply across Tasmania, namely:
         Preventing housing stress of low income earners by increasing the supply of affordable
          homes.
         Targeted early intervention to assist Tasmanians in need who are at risk of housing stress or
          homelessness.
         Rapid Response and Recovery aimed at people who are at immediate risk of, or currently
          experiencing, homelessness to find safe and secure housing.
        The strategic direction and initiatives for housing and homelessness in Tasmania are developed
        with extensive consultation with the housing and homelessness sector including the peak body,
        Shelter Tasmania.
        The Affordable Housing Strategy has been supplemented by the funding made available from
        the Australian Government releasing Tasmania from its long-standing public housing debt as
        well as the stimulus measures taken by the Tasmanian Government in response to COVID-19.

        b.      Early intervention and prevention of homelessness
        Targeted early intervention is a key element of the Affordable Housing Strategy to assist
        Tasmanians who are at risk of housing stress or homelessness. This section outlines actions
        taken by the Tasmanian Government to support Tasmanians into secure accommodation and
        home ownership as well as broader measures taken to respond to changing market conditions.

        5
          Tasmanian Government (2015) Tasmania’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025, is available at:
        https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/housing/tasmanian_affordable_housing_strategy
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        (i)     Private Rental Incentives program
        The Government runs the Private Rental Incentives Program which supports low income
        households with low or no support needs into low cost private rental homes with leases up to
        two years at an affordable maximum rent. Owners are offered a financial incentive to make
        their property available to the scheme via a head lease to a registered community housing
        provider. The scheme works by the provider entering into lease agreements with applicants
        from the Housing Register. Owners are guaranteed rent for two years and any tenant damage is
        repaired. At the end of the two-year lease, owners are able to offer tenants a direct lease
        agreement. Tenants are eligible for Commonwealth Rent Assistance, provided by the Australian
        Government.

        (ii)    Home ownership assistance
        Tasmania has the highest rate of home ownership in the nation. At the 2016 Census, 69.2 per
        cent of dwellings were owned outright or with a mortgage compared to 65.5 per cent
        nationally. The Affordable Housing Strategy commits to assist 657 more households into home
        ownership by 30 June 2023, of which 351 have already been assisted under Action Plan 1. This
        goal will be achieved through the delivery of the HomeShare and Streets Ahead programs:
         HomeShare helps those on lower incomes by reducing the initial cost of buying a house and
          the monthly cost of owning it, with the cost shared by the Director of Housing. As part of
          the Government’s response to COVID-19, this program has been expanded to enable
          more Tasmanians into home ownership (refer to section 6).
         The Streets Ahead Incentive Program helps with the deposit, mortgage insurance and legal
          costs of buying a home. The Program is available to all public housing tenants and eligible
          persons purchasing Director of Housing properties that are for sale. The eligibility criteria for
          includes an income sufficient to meet the costs of purchasing and owning a home.
        The Tasmanian Government offers a $20,000 First Home Owner Grant (FHOG) for eligible
        applicants who buy or build a new home, where the transaction meets certain eligibility criteria.
        In response to the economic impacts from COVID-19, for a limited time, the Tasmanian
        Government is offering a $20,000 Tasmanian HomeBuilder Grant (THB) to eligible applicants.
        The THB is available on contracts to build or buy a new home which are entered into between
        4 June 2020 and 31 December 2020 (inclusive).
        These grants are complemented by the Australian Government’s new HomeBuilder Grant,
        which will mean that eligible applicants may access $45,000 across the two schemes. By assisting
        households into affordable private rental and home ownership, these measures aim to reduce
        housing stress, reduce the demand for social housing and increase the overall housing supply.

        (iii)   Long-term Supported Accommodation Facilities in Tasmania
        There are currently eight long-term Supported Accommodation Facilities (SAF) in Tasmania
        with at least two more to become available by 2023. SAFs provide long-term secure
        accommodation to people who need some support to maintain a tenancy. They are for men
        and women 18 years and over, without children. All SAF tenants have secure leases.

        (iv)   Broader measures
        The Tasmanian Government has implemented a suite of measures to help ease Tasmania’s
        housing pressures including to incentivise increased housing supply for rent or home ownership.
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        These measures have included introducing duty concessions for first home buyers and eligible
        pensioners who downsize, providing land tax exemptions to incentivise more long-term rental
        properties and the Private Rental Incentive Program, which was discussed above.
        Recent data shows these measures are working to support investment with Tasmania
        experiencing the strongest growth in the country for dwelling approvals, commencements,
        completions and work done. In 2019-20, the duty concessions have helped 1,410 first home
        buyers to purchase a home, and 305 pensioners to downsize, while the FHOG has assisted
        705 first home buyers.
        The Tasmanian Government has introduced legislation to facilitate new public housing supply
        and to respond to changing market conditions. The Housing Land Supply Act 2018 ‘fast tracks’
        the rezoning of Government owned land for residential housing development. It enables the
        Minister, subject to approval by both Houses of Parliament, to rezone land and set the relevant
        planning provisions. This process occurs instead of the standard process under the Land Use
        Planning and Approvals Act 1993 reducing the overall planning process by at least six months.
        The Government has also implemented the Short Stay Accommodation Act 2019, which serves
        three aims: (i) to ensure that everyone plays by the rules; (ii) to paint a clear picture of short-
        stay accommodation in Tasmania; and (iii) to provide councils with the information to ensure
        compliance with regulations and to make decisions based on evidence. People listing short stay
        accommodation on booking platforms such as Airbnb and Stayz are now required to
        demonstrate to website providers that they are complying with existing planning requirements.
        In addition to these immediate reforms, the Tasmanian Government is pursuing broad-scale
        reforms to the State’s land-use planning system. These reforms will deliver a more strategic,
        consistent and efficient approach to land use and development into the future. These reforms
        will include the preparation of a suite of State Planning Policies articulating the Government’s
        priorities for the planning system to address.

        c.      Supports for those experiencing homelessness
        Homelessness prevention, crisis accommodation and support programs operate across a
        continuum of care model and therefore often overlap in scope of interventions and support on
        offer. This section outlines activities to reduce housing stress and homelessness in Tasmania.

        (i)     Housing Connect
        Housing Connect, funded by the Tasmanian Government, is the ‘front door’ to all housing
        assistance. It is both an early intervention and during-tenancy support service. It provides
        immediate assistance such as accessing financial assistance into the private rental market, help
        completing social housing applications, referrals to supported accommodation including crisis
        accommodation, and medium- or long-term supported accommodation.
        People can receive an integrated service from any outlet across the State and referrals may be
        made by any government, community or private organisation to Housing Connect. This may
        result in clients being referred to housing support providers for housing support or referred to
        specialised support for other needs such as drug and alcohol services.
        The Housing Assessment Prioritisation System (HAPS) is used by Housing Connect to assess
        need for medium- and long-term supported accommodation and social housing. HAPS is an
        attributes-based model which determines housing need based on factors such as affordability,
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        safety, homelessness, mobility and health. Applicants are assessed as either priority applicants
        (urgent need) or general applicants (serious, but not urgent) for housing assistance
        Applicants can apply for a range of accommodation and will be placed on the Housing Register.
        The Housing Register is accessed by participating housing providers, including government or
        community housing providers. Applicants are matched to available and suitable properties.

        (ii)    Better Housing Futures program
        In March, 2013 the Tasmanian Government commenced the Better Housing Futures program.
        This program involved transferring the management of almost 4000 Housing Tasmania owned
        properties to four Community Housing Providers for a period of 10 years. These providers are
        able to leverage Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA), which means that these providers can
        provide improved housing because they have more ways of funding their housing services,
        including maintenance. This has also provided sufficient revenues to deliver new social houses.
        In March 2020, The Government announced a major policy that provides certainty over the
        long term for Tasmania’s Community Housing sector and increases the supply of social housing
        for people on the housing register. The Tasmanian Government will extend its current
        agreements with four Community Housing Providers through to 2040, providing long term
        certainty for the sector.
        We also announced that we will transfer the management of a further 2000 Housing Tasmania-
        owned properties, which means Community Housing Providers will access an extra $6 million
        of revenue through Commonwealth Rent Assistance each year. These negotiations are
        expected to commence shortly

        (iii)    Rapid Rehousing
        Rapid Rehousing is a head leasing model that provides access to transitional accommodation
        and support to quickly help people into affordable rentals. Tenants pay a subsidised rent as for
        public housing and have access to specialised support. Tenancies are typically for 12 months,
        and, if needed, Housing Connect will work with providers to undertake exit planning to assist
        tenants to access long-term accommodation. The program aims to prevent homelessness,
        increase the capacity of other services and take pressure off the Housing Register.
        Three rapid rehousing models have been implemented: Family Violence Rapid Rehousing, Rapid
        Rehousing – Mental Health, and Rapid Rehousing – Ex Prisoners.

        (iv)    Housing Accommodation Support Initiative
        Housing Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI) is a partnership between the Tasmanian
        Department of Health, Department of Communities Tasmania, Adult Community Mental
        Health Services and Colony 47. HASI aims to support people with mental illness in at-risk
        tenancies to sustain their tenancies and avoid becoming homeless. It aims to support people
        with persistent mental ill-health who are experiencing homelessness and require integrated
        services to sustain their tenancy and transition into independent living in the community.
        HASI provides services that are individualised, holistic, integrated, culturally responsive, safe and
        flexible, to enable people with mental illness to remain living in the community. The primary
        target group for the service is individuals who are residing in the southern region of Tasmania
        and experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness and experiencing persistent mental ill-health.
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        (v)    Immediate responses
        Over the last two years, the Tasmanian Government has made investments to respond to
        market conditions and provide more short-term accommodation. These measures build on
        work being undertaken through the Affordable Housing Strategy and across Government.
        In March 2018, the Government convened a Housing Summit to bring together experts in key
        sectors to identify practical actions to assist Tasmanians in need. Participants identified nine
        actions related to land-use planning, incentives to increase the private rental stock, and data
        gathering initiatives. These actions have been incorporated into the Government’s response.
        In June, 2019, the Government also announced an extra $5 million for immediate actions to
        address homelessness. This included expanding the capacity of existing crisis shelters using pre-
        fabricated dwellings and more funding to secure cabins, hotel and motel rooms for emergency
        accommodation. This funding provided temporary relief while new housing stock was being
        constructed.
        The Government also purchased the former Waratah Hotel in Hobart in August 2019 to turn it
        into another supported accommodation facility.
        In June, 2020, in response to COVID-19, and the associated restrictions the Tasmanian
        Government has announced economic and social support measures to support Tasmanians
        during this period. This has included measures targeted at people experiencing homelessness
        (refer to section 6).

        d.       Support for specific cohorts who are at risk of homelessness
        The Affordable Housing Strategy brings together a range of policies and strategies for specific
        population cohorts. This section outlines actions being taken by the Tasmanian Government,
        and its partners, to support specific cohorts who are at risk of homelessness.

        (i)    Women, children and families affected by family violence
        The Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2018 -20216 and Safe Homes, Families, Communities:
        Tasmania’s action plan for family and sexual violence 2019-20227 include actions to support
        women, children and families impacted by family violence into housing and accommodation.
        In 2018-19, family violence was identified as a reason for seeking assistance from homelessness
        services by 23.5 per cent of clients (1,553) in Tasmania. A lack of safe, affordable housing limits
        the ability of victim-survivors (mostly women) to leave violent relationships.
        Through our Affordable Housing Strategy and our immediate responses to homelessness, we
        are providing new and improved crisis accommodation for women and children. In the South,
        the Tasmanian Government is delivering 25 new dwellings including eight units in partnership
        with CatholicCare, 10 pods at the Hobart Women’s Shelter and seven existing family dwellings
        that have been leased from the University of Tasmania. The Tasmanian Government is also
        progressing plans to expand Magnolia House in Launceston.

        6
          Tasmanian Government (2018) Tasmanian Women’s Strategy 2018-2021, available at:
        https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/csr/policy/Policy_Work/tasmanian_womens_strategy_2018-2021
        7
          Tasmanian Government (2019), Safe Homes, Families, Communities: Tasmania’s action plan for family and sexual
        violence 2019-2022, available at: http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/safehomesfamiliescommunities
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        Safe at Home is Tasmania’s integrated criminal justice response to family violence, which is
        underpinned by the Family Violence Act 2004. It involves a range of services working together to
        support victims and children, and hold perpetrators to account.
        With respect to housing, Family Violence Orders may contain clauses that prevent an offender
        from returning to the home, or any other property in which the victim may reside. For rental
        properties, the Family Violence Act 2004 contains provisions to terminate a tenancy agreement
        and/or establish a new tenancy agreement for whoever remains at the house. Where a victim
        cannot remain in their home, shelters and the Rapid Rehousing program (refer to section 3c(iii))
        are available to provide support. As at 30 April 2020, 226 households affected by family
        violence were housed into private rentals through the Rapid Rehousing program.
        Tasmania’s efforts have been enhanced by the Keeping Women Safe in their Homes program
        funded by the Australian Government under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against
        Women and their Children 2010-2022. The program funds activities to enable women to feel
        safe in their homes such as risk assessments, safety planning and security upgrades.

        (ii)    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
        Housing Tasmania has a portfolio of properties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
        As at 31 May 2020, 218 properties were occupied by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
        people. Aboriginal Tenancy Allocation Panels operate in each region of Tasmania and consider
        allocations based on advice from Housing Tasmania. Applicants can apply specifically for
        Aboriginal housing through the Housing Register.
        Through Better Housing Futures, some properties for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
        people have been transferred to community housing providers. The providers continue to use
        these properties for Aboriginal housing as they become vacant and on advice from the Panels.

        (iii)    Children and young people
        Young people presenting alone accounted for 26 per cent of clients to homelessness services in
        Tasmania in 2018-19.8 Additionally, there is a cohort of young people who are sleeping rough
        or at risk of homelessness who are often not reflected in available data. This is increasingly being
        reported as a significant issue by schools, compounding the impacts of trauma.
        The Tasmanian Child and Youth Wellbeing Framework9 provides a holistic definition of
        wellbeing which highlights critical factors (including material basics such as access to adequate,
        stable housing) that contribute to life outcomes. All services that contribute to child and youth
        wellbeing are invited to embrace and implement the Framework.
        The Government has invested in a range of services and accommodation options to prevent
        and respond to youth homelessness. The Youth at Risk Strategy10 is the overarching strategy
        which aims to increase awareness and create alternative pathways for young people at risk.
        Under this Strategy, Housing Tasmania has been providing support to help young people find
        secure, safe and stable housing, increase the awareness of existing services and enhance support

        8
          Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019), 2018-19 Specialist Homelessness Services annual report, available
        at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/shs-annual-report-18-19
        9
          Tasmanian Government (2018), The Tasmanian Child and Youth Wellbeing Framework, available at:
        https://strongfamiliessafekids.tas.gov.au/child-and-youth-wellbeing-framework
        10
           Tasmanian Government (2017), The Youth at Risk Strategy, available at:
        https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/children/youth-at-risk-services
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        for young people in existing accommodation services. This includes exploring new models for
        accommodation for young people in rural and regional areas.
        The establishment of Youth Foyers is a key strategy to enhance support for young people.
        Youth Foyers are integrated learning and accommodation settings for young people (aged 16 –
        24 years) who are at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness or are exiting out-of-home care.
        Working with the community sector and mainstream services, Youth Foyers provide medium-
        term accommodation (up to two years), support and engagement with education and training.
        The core aim is to support young people to achieve better outcomes and to live independently.
        The Youth at Risk Strategy (and Action Plan 2) includes actions to transition three current
        youth supported accommodation facilities into Education-First Youth Foyers, establish new
        Youth Foyers in Burnie and Hobart, and expand the Youth Foyer in Launceston (Thyne House).
        A new Youth at Risk Centre will be established in Launceston, similar to Hobart’s Colville Place,
        established under AHAP 1. It will provide youth crisis accommodation for up to three months
        for nine young people. The Centre will work with the young person to reunite them with their
        family or transition them to other accommodation, to access support services and to re-engage
        in education.
        The Targeted Youth Support Service (South) and Supported Youth Program (North / North-
        West) supports children and young people (aged 10-18 years) who have multiple complex
        needs including homelessness. The programs are delivered by community providers. Both
        programs have benefited clients’ overall wellbeing, participation in the community and the
        stability of their living situation.
        In April 2019, the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Taskforce was established by the Tasmanian
        Government to provide recommendations to address youth homelessness and improve
        services for at-risk young people. A Working Group, with government and non-government
        representatives, has been established to oversee immediate actions and provide advice on the
        Taskforce’s longer-term recommendations. In April, 2020 the Government announced that we
        will invest an additional $513,000 in services to support young people presenting at homeless
        shelters, delivering on several recommendations from the Under 16 Youth Homelessness
        Taskforce. Additional services will include intensive case management, outreach support and
        family mediation for young people at risk of homelessness in the North, North West and South.

        (iv)    People exiting prison
        Access to stable and suitable accommodation is a key factor in the Parole Board’s determination
        of an application for parole. The absence of appropriate accommodation may result in prisoners
        who would otherwise be considered suitable for parole remaining incarcerated. This situation
        can be further complicated for prisoners who do not have a fixed date for release.
        To address this problem, the Government has increased the options that are available to
        improve access to housing for people exiting prison. The Rapid Rehousing program has 12
        properties available for ex-prisoners. The initiative provides transitional accommodation (leases
        of up to 12 months) at subsidised rent. Tenants are supported to reintegrate into the
        community through the Beyond the Wire program, which is delivered by the Salvation Army
        Tasmania.
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        Programs to support ex-prisoners have resulted from a collaboration between non-government
        organisations to provide statewide access to the services provided by each organisation
        (Anglicare Tasmania; CatholicCare; Colony 47; Hobart City Mission; Salvation Army Tasmania).
        People exiting prison can also receive support through Housing Connect (refer to section 3c(i)).
        In recent years, Housing Connect has adopted policy changes to enhance referrals, pre-release
        assessments and housing suitability assessments for parole applicants. For example, requests for
        housing needs assessments can now be made 30 weeks before release.

        (v)    Seniors
        An increasing number of older people, particularly women, are experiencing homelessness in
        Tasmania. The Strong Liveable Communities, Tasmania’s Active Ageing Plan Implementation Strategy
        2019-2011 outlines key actions being taken across Government, and the community to support
        older Tasmanians. Older women are categorised as priority applicants on the Housing Register.
        Ensuring new accommodation and public housing is suitable for older people is a priority area.
        All new construction is expected to meet liveability standards suitable for the notion of ‘ageing
        in place’. This work also influences the ongoing review of existing housing standards.
        In the South, the Government is undertaking a range of measures to meet demand. A new
        50-bed facility will be constructed for elderly people on low incomes, with licences awarded to
        Wintringham Specialist Aged Care. The Government is working with the Hobart City Mission
        to co-invest in new homeless accommodation for older men. In addition to new supply, work
        will occur to provide an in-home support service for older residents in social housing.

        (vi)    People living with disability
        Under Action Plan 2, $20 million is quarantined to provide purpose-built homes for people
        living with disability. This will ensure that people living with disability on the Housing Register
        can be offered a home that is accessible and meets their needs. In 2018-19, 160 new homes
        were built or purchased by the Tasmanian Government. Of these, 25 are suitable for immediate
        occupation by someone with high mobility or support needs. The remainder can be customised
        to meet individual needs, as required.
        The development of supported accommodation for people living with disability is also a priority
        area of Action Plan 2. This includes the construction of new purpose built housing, as well as
        working with community providers to deliver tailored housing and support services.

        (vii)    People living with mental illness
        In addition to providing supply, it is also important that clients living with mental illness receive
        professional support such as counselling services and alcohol and drug services. In 2018-19, 30
        per cent of specialist homelessness services clients had mental health issues and 10 per cent of
        clients recorded problematic drug/alcohol use.12
        Under Action Plan 2, the Government is working with community housing providers to deliver
        a Rapid Rehousing program for people with mental illness (refer to section 3c(iii)). Another

        11
           Tasmanian Government (2019), Strong Liveable Communities, Tasmania’s active Ageing Plan Implementation
        Strategy 2019-20, available at: https://www.communities.tas.gov.au/csr/news/tasmanias-active-ageing-plan-
        implementation-strategy-2019-2020
        12
           Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2019), 2018-19 Specialist Homelessness Services annual report,
        available at: https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/shs-annual-report-18-19
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        program is HASI, which supports people with mental ill-health in public housing and community
        at-risk tenancies to avoid homelessness (refer to section 3c(iv)). The Government procures
        tenancy support services for tenants living with mental illness in private housing, which are also
        available to public or community housing tenants.

        (viii) Culturally and linguistically diverse background communities
        There is specific supported accommodation available for refugees and migrants to Tasmania.
        This includes properties that are leased by the Government to community organisations that
        support these individuals and families. Around 30 properties were leased to Migrant Resource
        Centre Tasmania to provide housing and support for refugees as at May 2020.

        4. DATA AND DATA COLLECTION
        Data on homelessness can be difficult to find and may not capture all people sleeping rough.
        Homelessness data that is available is likely to underestimate the problem as it only relates to
        those people who present to shelters. For example, it may not capture young people who are
        ‘couch surfing’ or those who may be living in unsafe housing or on the streets.
        The most recent national homelessness data is drawn from the 2016 Census (refer section 2).
        The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is another key source for national data about
        housing affordability and homelessness. Data are gathered through community providers.
        Improved data collection is an aim of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement.
        Over recent years, the Tasmanian Government has pursued measures to enhance data
        collection. These measures aim to provide the Government, and its partners, with more
        information about housing affordability and homelessness to inform decision-making.
        Tasmania’s housing and homelessness system is supported by a range of integrated data sharing
        platforms between government and non-government agencies. Housing Connect is supported
        by the Specialist Homelessness Information Platform – Tasmania (SHIP-Tas) to collect, manage
        and store client information. SHIP-Tas supports collaboration within the service system, helping
        clients to receive more coordinated assistance and support, SHIP-Tas also supports service
        outcome reporting. Clients are asked to consent to what information is held about them and
        shared with service providers. Clients are able to restrict what information can be shared.
        Housing Tasmania’s Housing Management System integrates housing services into one system
        supporting: assessments, allocations, tenancy management, maintenance, asset management,
        financials and arrangements with external housing providers. The system interfaces with
        Centrelink, Service Tasmania and Housing Connect via SHIP-TAS.
        In May 2019, Tasmania launched a new bond management system called MyBond. MyBond
        offers 24/7 online access for property managers, owners, tenants and deposit contributors. The
        new system allows electronic bond lodgement, change of details and bond claims. Following
        stakeholder consultation, additional functions and enhancements will be added over time such
        as improved reporting options for auditing purposes. Over time, MyBond will enable a better
        understanding of the private rental market in Tasmania.
        The Short Stay Accommodation Act 2019 has created a data sharing partnership with booking
        platforms. The data sharing partnership will provide better evidence to the Government about
        the impact of short stay accommodation in Tasmania. The quality of data will improve over time
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        as the reporting requirements and data collection processes are refined. The second report
        (July 2020) provides data for 5,054 properties listed during the first quarter of 2020.
        The Department of Communities Tasmania’s website is updated regularly to provide timely
        information about housing and homelessness initiatives. The Tasmanian Government releases
        quarterly housing reports that outline updated housing and homelessness data, progress made
        under Action Plan 2 and case studies. The most recent report was released in March 2020. The
        Human Services Dashboard is regularly updated to provide headline indicators and supporting
        statistics across human services including housing data.

        5. GOVERNANCE AND FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS
        The Affordable Housing Strategy recognises that all levels of government, the community sector
        and private sector have a role to play in Tasmania’s housing and homelessness system.
        The Tasmanian Government has allocated $200 million to the Affordable Housing Action Plans
        to support the Affordable Housing Strategy between 2015 and 2023. As outlined above, further
        funding has been allocated to additional measures across the housing and homelessness system.
        The Housing and Homelessness Service System is funded by the Tasmanian Government and
        directed by Housing Programs; a branch of the Department of Communities Tasmania. Other
        government agencies also implement policies and programs relevant to the housing sector.
        The private sector continues to invest and develop new housing supply. The non-government
        sector and community providers play a crucial role in delivering housing and housing support.
        The Australian Government is a core partner in tackling housing stress and homelessness. The
        Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement is the primary funding mechanism for the provision
        of funding from the Australian Government to the State. It is providing funding of $230.2 million
        (up to 2041-42) to increase access to social housing, reduce homelessness and improve supply.
        The National Housing and Homelessness Agreement provides around $1.5 billion each year to
        the states and territories for affordable housing. It includes $125 million for homelessness
        services each year. Under the Agreement, Tasmania receives around $33 million per annum. Of
        this, around $19 million is provided for social housing, and $14 million is provided for
        homelessness services.
        As noted previously, in September 2019 the Australian Government waived Tasmania’s
        $157 million housing-related debt. As a result, the Tasmanian Government will save $230.2
        million in total interest and principal repayments through to 2041-42. These funds have been
        allocated towards additional social housing and increased targets for the Rapid Rehousing and
        Private Rental Incentives programs.
        During COVID-19, the Australian Government provided additional funding to the states and
        territories to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. This included funding to support health
        responses and funding to meet increasing demand for core services (ie. family violence
        responses and legal assistance). This funding was crucial to bolstering response measures.
        The Tasmanian Government’s response to COVID-19 is outlined at section 6.
        Local government is key partner in responding to market conditions and supporting housing.
        The Tasmania Government is partnering with the City of Hobart in preparing a Central Hobart
        Precincts Plan to set out the future directions for the city core and immediately surrounding
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        areas which includes consideration of development of housing and residential infill and changes
        to planning regulations to facilitate higher densities.
        City Deals in Tasmania have generated new partnerships across the three tiers of government.
        The Tasmanian and Australian Governments are working closely with local governments to
        implement local responses to housing and homelessness issues. The Tasmanian Government
        has entered into partnerships with the Australian Government and local governments under the
        Launceston City Deal and the Hobart City Deal.
        The Launceston City Deal includes housing initiatives focusing on in-fill development in the
        Central Business District and assisting the private sector to redevelop sites for residential use.
        The City of Hobart has been very active in developing local responses to homelessness in the
        region. It has actively engaged with Housing Connect to explore levels of homelessness. The
        Hobart City Deal includes $30 million from the Australian Government for projects to deliver
        new dwellings in partnership with community housing providers. These activities build on the
        work underway to boost housing supply in the Greater Hobart region in Action Plan 2.
        The City of Hobart has established a Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance to develop
        housing projects and solutions for the region. This group has played a key role in establishing
        Hobart’s Safe Night Space for emergency housing, which is delivered by Hobart City Mission
        and the Salvation Army. This service model has recently been expanded to Safe Spaces (24/7
        services) and will be rolled out statewide and supported by Tasmanian Government funding.

        6. COVID-19 RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
        The Tasmanian Government made some tough decisions to protect the health of Tasmanians
        from COVID-19. This included introducing some of the toughest border controls and other
        restrictions in Australia. This section outlines early insights about the impacts of COVID-19 to
        Tasmania and the Tasmanian Government’s response and recovery efforts to date.

        a       COVID-19 impacts
        The impacts of COVID-19 and associated restrictions to the Tasmanian economy and people’s
        lives are evolving. There is, therefore, limited availability of data that shows the impact of
        COVID-19 on housing and homelessness. As recovery continues there will be more
        opportunities to explore the potential impacts.
        Short term indicators related to economic issues and housing availability are only beginning to
        show trends in relation to COVID-19. Tasmania is already seeing changes in the rental market,
        particularly in Hobart. Early indications from SQM Research show an increase in vacancy rates in
        Hobart from 0.8 per cent in March 2020 to 1.4 per cent in April 2020. The most recent
        Domain Rent Report, released on 9 April 2020, indicates that a significant number of houses
        have been transferred from the short-stay accommodation market to the long-term rental pool.
        It is expected that these properties will continue to transfer into the rental market, further
        adding to housing supply. It should be noted that most of the new rental properties have been
        in more affluent suburbs and it is too early to tell if the increase in overall supply of rental
        properties will help ease prices overall.
        Tasmanians have lost their jobs and income due to COVID-19. ABS Labour Force indicators
        show that unemployment in Tasmania increased from 5.1 per cent in March 2020 to
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        6.1 per cent in April 2020. The Australian Government’s income support measures (JobKeeper
        and Jobseeker Payments, fortnightly Coronavirus Supplement and one-off household support
        payments) have helped to relieve financial and housing stress.
        Initial analysis of Tasmania’s Housing Register shows a decline in the number of applicants since
        the end of March 2020. It is unknown if this decline is associated with fewer people needing
        housing assistance, or fewer people actively expressing need (eg. accessing services or updating
        their applications). Anecdotally, shelters are not reporting increased presentations to services
        but appear to be accommodating clients for an average longer number of nights.
        While early indicators show no increase in demand for housing and homelessness services, this
        may change as income support measures and other response measures are discontinued and
        subject to economic conditions. This could lead to increased homelessness and housing stress.
        The University of Tasmania has established The Tasmania Project, which seeks to gather insights
        and data related to the impact of COVID-19. This research has found that some Tasmanians
        have had to make adjustments to meet housing costs. The most recent survey (July 2020)
        showed that 61 per cent of respondents selected affordable housing as a way to improve life in
        Tasmania. This work is a useful resource to assess the impacts of COVID-19 in Tasmania.
        Housing affordability and economic indicators will continue to be monitored to explore long-
        term impacts of COVID-19 and necessary response measures. This includes data on housing
        affordability such as house prices, rent prices and rental vacancies and demand for services.

        b       Responding to COVID-19
        The Tasmanian Government has introduced two social and economic support stimulus
        packages in response to COVID-19. The two packages, which total $1 billion, complement the
        Australian Government’s multi-billion dollar response. The packages comprise initiatives to
        support health, businesses and jobs, households and individuals, and the community.
        The Tasmanian Government has made available additional funding to support people who are
        experiencing homelessness and housing stress during the pandemic. The Government has also
        announced measures across the broader housing sector including a commitment to continuing
        to build new housing supply.
        The Government has not increased rent for social housing, and will not count Australian and
        Tasmanian Governments’ emergency payments as income in calculating rent contributions. This
        has assisted around 11,500 social housing tenants at a cost of around $6.7 million.
        Under the first package, $4.3 million was provided for additional housing and homelessness
        support. The funding provides for uncapped brokerage to access emergency accommodation in
        hotels, motels and cabins to provide immediate accommodation for people who are homeless.
        Additionally, mental health clinicians will be providing in-reach support to homeless clients of
        Housing Connect who are assisted into emergency brokered accommodation.
        Funding was provided to expand the Safe Night Space for rough sleepers in the South to a 24/7
        model involving essential services including the provision of meals, showers, laundry, lockers,
        charging stations and network access, as well as implementing these models in Launceston and
        Burnie.
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        The Housing Connect Steering Committee is exploring models of accommodation that will
        provide the best outcomes for clients, such as dispersed or medium density accommodation.
        Additional support services will be implemented for young people at risk of homelessness
        including intensive case management, outreach support and family mediation. These actions
        deliver on several recommendations from the Under 16 Youth Homelessness Taskforce.
        The Government has established the Mental Health Homelessness Outreach Support Team,
        which has been funded for six months. This will inform a homelessness mental health team to
        be established as part of the implementation of new service models under the Tasmanian
        Mental Health Reform Program into the future.
        Additional funding was provided to family violence services to respond to changing demand.
        This includes: $1.9 million to expand efforts through Safe at Home; $260,000 to expand the
        Family Violence Rapid Rehousing program; $310,000 to community-based specialist family
        violence support services and $100,000 for primary prevention awareness raising efforts.
        This funding also included $100,000 for flexible support packages. These packages provide
        financial assistance to victims of family violence who have left or are intending to leave an
        abusive relationship. A number of these packages have been used to assist victims to move to
        new properties/maintain new properties through the provision of essential furniture items, costs
        associated with connecting services such as electricity, stocking fridges and pantries in order to
        support the victim using their money for bond/rent, reducing the risk of homelessness. The
        Australian Government has also made available additional funding for family violence responses
        under the National Partnership: COVID-19 Domestic and Family Violence Responses.
        The Tasmanian Government introduced measures to help renters during COVID-19. The
        Residential Tenancy Act 1997 was amended to protect residential tenants, particularly those
        experiencing hardship from a loss of income due to COVID-19. This included an initial 120 day
        moratorium on evicting tenants for failing to pay their rent.
        On 3 April 2020, the Tasmanian Government issued a Notice under the COVID-19 Disease
        Emergency (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 to prevent residential rental evictions, meaning
        that evictions cannot occur for at least 90 days. On 23 April 2020, a Notice was issued to
        prevent residential rent increases until at least 30 June 2020. On 23 June 2020, the Government
        further extended these measures, with some minor exceptions, to 30 September 2020.
        The Tasmanian Government announced the COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund that provides a one-
        off payment made directly to the landlord. This happens only after a landlord enters into an
        approved temporary arrangement with their tenant to reduce the rent. The Fund is only
        available in cases of extreme hardship where other forms of financial assistance are not
        sufficient. Assistance is capped at four weeks rent, to a maximum of $2,000 (whichever is
        lower). As at 26 June 2020, the Tasmanian Government had paid rental relief of $161,000 on
        behalf of 195 tenants. A further 721 applications are were being assessed at this time.
        The Tasmanian Government has provided other support to relieve cost of living pressures. For
        example, it has waived all Tasmanian Government school debts for 2019 and prior as well as
        waiving all 2020 Tasmanian Government school levies at a cost of more than $17 million.
        These measures have eased some of the pressures placed on individuals and households during
        this period. The Tasmanian Government recognises that housing and homelessness services will
        be an ongoing priority as part of recovery.
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        c       Transitioning to recovery
        The Tasmanian Government has commenced the recovery phase, with no new cases recorded
        since 17 May 2020. Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania13 sets out Tasmania’s roadmap to
        recovery including core safeguards and three stages to easing restrictions. The plan identifies
        economic recovery and social support during recovery as the two distinct areas of recovery
        required to rebuild a stronger Tasmania.
        A dedicated Premier’s Economic and Social Recovery Advisory Council has been established to
        provide advice to the Government on strategies and initiatives to support the short to medium
        and the longer term recovery from COVID-19. The Council is made up of individuals from
        across the business and community sectors.
        Housing will play an important role in economic and social recovery. On 4 June 2020, the
        Tasmanian Government announced its Rebuilding Tasmania Infrastructure Investment program
        which included the following initiatives:
         1,000 Social Housing Dwellings: an additional $100 million under new agreements with
          Community Housing Providers to deliver up to an additional 1,000 new social houses.
         Fast tracking 220 Affordable Houses: the bringing forward of funding of $14 million and new
          funding of $10 million to deliver 220 social houses by 2022 – a year earlier than planned.
         Expansion of the HomeShare Program: income and asset eligibility limits will be increased to
          enable more households to access the Program. The Government equity contribution has
          also been increased to a maximum of $100,000 per house. It is estimated uptake will result
          in 150 home purchases including 75 new builds over two years.
         Tasmanian HomeBuilder Grant: it will provide new eligible owner occupier home builders
          with $20,000 towards the cost of a new build or the purchase of new house and land
          package. This grant will complement the Australian Government’s HomeBuilder program.
        Pandemic response and recovery will also include additional social housing maintenance, new
        Government building projects and infrastructure, and further expansion of the Private Rental
        Incentive program. These response measures complement existing efforts across Tasmania.

        7. CONCLUSION
        The Tasmanian Government continues to deliver initiatives across the housing system to
        support housing affordability and respond to homelessness. As outlined in this submission, a
        large body of work has occurred in recent years, and further actions will be implemented.
        Through Action Plan 2 the Tasmanian Government, and its partners, will deliver of more supply
        including affordable housing and crisis accommodation as well as further support to those at risk
        of or experiencing homelessness.
        The COVID-19 pandemic and the associated restrictions caused major disruptions in Tasmania.
        The Tasmanian Government acted quickly to contain the spread of the virus and implemented
        tough restrictions to protect Tasmanians. These actions have had consequences and altered the
        way of life for all Tasmanians. As part of the response, it was important that the Government
        provided economic and social support through this challenging time.

        13
          Tasmanian Government (2020) Our Plan to Rebuild a Stronger Tasmania, available at:
        http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/535115/Our_Plan_to_Rebuild_a_Stronger_Tasmania.pdf
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