Roger Jaensch,Minister for Housing
The Tasmanian Government is continuing to address youth homelessness in Tasmania with a Development Application now lodged for a new youth crisis and transitional accommodation facility in Burnie.
The $8 million facility will comprise of 23 single units to increase the accommodation options for young people in the North West who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness.
We are doing all we can to help Tasmanians in need to access safe and secure accommodation and this will ensure young people aged 13-20 in the North West have access to a holistic facility to help them build better lives for themselves and get back on their feet.
The new facility will be managed by Youth, Family and Community Connections (YFCC) and comprises eight crisis and 15 transitional units for young people, with access to communal and outdoor recreational areas, and 24/7 support services.
The facility is jointly funded through the Government’s second Affordable Housing Action Plan, and as a result of savings from the historic agreement to waive the State’s Housing related debt to the Commonwealth last September.
We will continue to do all we can to help Tasmanians into safe and secure housing and give young Tasmanians in need a better start in life.
It will complement other initiatives we have implemented to increase housing options and reduce homelessness across the State, with the added benefit of supporting jobs in our vital building and construction sector as we continue our recovery from COVID-19.
These include our $16.8 million commitment in last week’s Budget to continue the Safe Space program as a 24/7 wrap-around service in Burnie, Launceston and Hobart and to deliver general health and mental health supports to people experiencing homelessness for another two years.
The Budget also included a $100 million investment to deliver up to 1000 additional new social housing dwellings over the next three years under our Community Housing Growth Program.
This is over and above the homes and key projects that are being delivered under our Affordable Housing Strategy, which will continue its work to deliver outcomes for Tasmanians in need.
