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The program, supported by a $33 million commitment from the federal government’s National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation has targeted building nearly 200 homes this year.
A total target of 181 social and affordable homes built within Tasmania by year’s end has been set forth by the Albanese government, with funding for the program comprising $31 million in loans and a $1.92 million grant.
Community housing provider, Housing Choices Tasmania, will receive the funding and deliver on the target, with homes set to be built in Shorewell Park, Somerset, West Ulverstone, Wynyard, Latrobe, and East Devonport.
Minister for housing Julie Collins declared the government “won’t waste a day in 2023 working to deliver this agenda.”
“Safe and affordable housing is central to the security and dignity of Australians,” she said.
Speaking at a doorstop interview in Burnie, Tasmania, Ms Collins explained that the partnership, which also includes the Tasmania government, who themselves have provided grant funding, is just the beginning of her government’s housing agenda.
“What we want to see more of is working in a way with community housing providers and, of course, with other tiers of government to get more homes on the ground more quickly,” she said.
She added, “This kind of collaboration is what we’re trying to achieve through our strategy for the sector.”
When asked at the same doorstop interview about how these homes will be divided, Kim Bomford from Housing Services Tasmania revealed the state’s social housing waitlist is a vital tool in the determination process.
The information provided by the waitlist gives housing providers “an idea of where demand is generally across the state.” Ms Bomford added that they “also get that breakdown of information within those priority applicants about their specific needs.”
“So, whether they do have mobility needs, whether they do have additional support needs, whether they’re coming from homelessness specifically to people who are at risk of homelessness, you know, through their circumstances.”
This information, as well as the land, provides a platform for considerations about where the houses will be delivered.
Michael Lennon of Housing Choices Australia shared, “The important thing in this debate is not simply to build houses where you’ve got chronic housing need at the moment.”
“These buildings should last 60 and 80 years. So, we have to think about access to services, access to schools, employment, training — all those things,” he added.
Upcoming legislation entering the federal parliament in the coming weeks to establish the Housing Australia Future Fund. Ms Collins explained that each year, the investment returns from this fund will be invested in additional social and affordable housing across the country.
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