Glenorchy Dragging Its Feet on Urgent Temporary Shelter

I am disappointed that a recent motion (see full text below) in Glenorchy City Council focused on supporting homelessness was deferred until next month’s meeting. The motion gave the council two months to do the work and report back, which was arguably the reason they decided to defer it, as they said they needed more time.

Emergency action is needed by all levels of government to assist those experiencing the housing crisis at the coalface.

I understand these actions may appear to be outside of what many think are the usual local government responsibilities, but these were extraordinary times and in Australia, the responsibility for working together on housing policy is shared across all three levels of government.

Accordingly I will ask the council at the next meeting to look at whether local halls and emergency facilities can be opened up, so that people living rough can shelter there in an emergency like our recent snowfall period.

Let me be ultra clear in that I realise shelters are not a humane long-term solution; they are the final safety net that can often scrape extremely close to the ground.

Longer-term solutions would see the council investigating better ways to advocate to the state and federal government, in the hope of securing pilot project funding and more meaningful action. Many pilot programs such as tiny houses or more accessible homelessness shelters and initiatives like these are being funded nationally and rolled out across the country in a ‘reactive’ response to the rapidly growing housing and homelessness crisis.

I don’t necessarily agree with some of the concepts being introduced across the nation, such as ‘trailer park’ type set-ups that often unsafe, antisocial and not fit for purpose. But I certainly favour opening up the discussion more seriously in aim of promoting positive action on what we need most now.

Tasmania’s homelessness services are usually providing the right supports to people but are under-resourced for the issue at hand, there’s simply no housing and that’s the real problem that none of us at this level can meaningfully address. Opening up public spaces with the capacity for short-term emergency shelter during our most desperate times is one thing, but more permanent, medium and long-term solutions are needed at both the state and federal level to solve the spiralling homelessness epidemic for Tasmania.

Sadly now the Tasmanian state government could not possibly deliver the currently needed 14,500 new dwellings without substantial funding support from the Commonwealth and significant private investment in affordable housing. This has not been forthcoming or even sought by our leaders at the level we require. They have promised a measly 3500 dwelling over the next 4 years.. and I’ll be very surprised if they keep to that one.

I have been hearing the homeless community loud and clear while working on the ground, overseeing suicide prevention statewide and supporting people who are living in all types of unsafe and make-shift accommodations. Some of these include tents pitched on bush fringes of our local suburbia and at the Showgrounds, where around 40 families were living before the cold really set-in – we don’t know where they went to find shelter after their tents recently collapsed.

Most caravan parks and camping areas also have limitations for the length of stay, so that’s an additional stress for many. A NSW council experiencing similar issues locally have more recently been working with local agencies to pilot a program providing free hot showers and laundry services for people experiencing homelessness, and through the mayors own contacts, have arranged for 500 blankets to be donated and distributed locally.

As an on-th- ground practitioner, I also understand the importance of examining the practicalities like access to personal safety, privacy, services, facilities, and whether local service providers and agencies are resourced to support them.

But from the feedback I’ve received from those actually living it locally in this weather, especially from those with children, is that having access to a sheltered and safe space, even for a very short period of time, would have been much better than not at all.

Which would unfortunately need to be the short term goal of this type of model or proposal anyway, as we as a council cannot solve the state and federal housing problems for them.

I simply want our council to explore our current capacity and spaces for opportunity, along with the feasibility of a pilot project funded by the state or federal government that will help to progress more meaningful and long-term action in our city, and hopefully even state.

Kelly Sims is a local city councillor (Glenorchy) and published writer who has a background in mental health, community development, education and business. A coffee addict who enjoys working on the farm and exploring the local bush land with her two horses.