Tasmanian family split by lack of affordable housing as wait list grows longer
Updated
A Hobart family of eight have been forced apart because they cannot access public housing or find a private rental, as new data shows the wait list for accommodation has grown by 1,000 applicants in a year.
Key points:
- Government releasing 203 new homes to ease housing crisis
- Plan hatched in 2015 "too little, too late", Greens say
- Wait list for housing in Tasmania at 4,000 people
Clinton Hallett lives in a small caravan at an inner-city camping ground while his wife and six daughters live at a women's shelter.
The family had to leave their private rental of three years in December last year because the owner wanted to move in. They have applied for more than 30 houses, without luck.
"It is just knock-back after knock-back … I think they look at the kid situation and think 'too many kids'," Mr Hallet said.
Mr Hallet said he had been told the family were on the priority list for public housing, but with no clue as to how long they would have to wait.
The caravan is too small for eight people, forcing the family to separate at the end of each day.
"It breaks my heart every time they walk away. I need a house as soon as possible because the stress on the kids and my wife," Mr Hallett said.
He pleaded with the Government to do something about his situation.
"Please help, I need help. I'm not a person who usually asks for help, but I'm down and out at the moment."
The latest government figures show Tasmania's public waiting list has blown out to almost 4000, an increase of 1000 applicants in a year.
Human Services Minister Jacquie Petrusma said she hoped 200 new homes would reduce that number.
In September 2015, the State Government announced a 10-year plan involving transferal of some public housing stock to community organisations so they could borrow against the value of the dwellings to build more affordable houses for vulnerable Tasmanians.
Ms Petrusma said the plan would give houses to people who had been waiting.
"If the Government had to build or renovate those homes itself it would have cost $45 million, but instead we've transferred the title of 504 properties to community housing providers," she said.
All up, about 4,000 public houses are being transferred to the community sector.
Too little, too late, Greens say
Shelter Tasmania's Pattie Chugg said she expected the housing waiting list to continue to grow.
"We're seeing an increasing number of people not being able to afford [houses], and they are in housing stress," she said.
"If you don't have a home you are very much at risk of being homeless.
"These are new homes where people can stay long term with affordable rent."
Greens leader Cassy O'Connor said the Government had not boosted affordable housing in its first two budgets.
"This work is happening too late for the thousands of people languishing on the publish housing waiting list," she said.
"It's great to see action now, but there are a whole heap of Tasmanians in deep housing stress as a result of under-funding and inaction."
The 203 properties will be ready by mid-2019.
But Mr Hallett said it would not be soon enough for his family:
"I need help, my family needs help."
Topics: housing, homelessness, charities-and-community-organisations, hobart-7000, launceston-7250
First posted
