Supplementary Agenda of Council Meeting

Item No. 18

Supplementary Agenda (Open Portion)

Council Meeting

Page 4

3/6/2019

REPORT TITLE: Homelessness and Housing - Request for Council Response

REPORT PROVIDED BY: General Manager

Director Community Life

1. Report Purpose and Community Benefit

1.1. The purpose of this report is to request the Council to call on the State and Federal Government to deliver immediate crisis, short, medium and long term housing and associated services to support the community services sector in responding to the current housing and homelessness crisis.

1.2. Community Services Sector organisations including Hobart City Mission and Colony 47 have advised that they are at crisis point in delivering services to the community and are requesting that the Council assist them through advocating to the State and Federal government for immediate action. The correspondence is shown at Attachments A and B.

2. Report Summary

2.1. With the colder weather arriving the number of community members experiencing homelessness due to the unaffordability of housing in Hobart is becoming more visible with increasing numbers of people sleeping rough, in cars and couch surfing.

2.2. The growing pressures on social and affordable housing in Greater Hobart, Tasmania and across all Australian Cities has resulted in a sharp increase in housing stress and homelessness across the country.

2.3. It is acknowledged that the direct provision of housing and homelessness services is not the role of Local government, however it is the City’s role to advocate for all members of the community and to support the Community Services Sector who operate in our city and support our most vulnerable citizens.

2.4. The information being provided by the Community Services Sector is that they are in a very difficult position where all crisis accommodation is at capacity, and the options for transitioning people sleeping rough into crisis and short term accommodation is extremely limited.

2.5. It is acknowledged that the current housing shortage needs action across the housing spectrum and that although there is a strong current focus on crisis and short term accommodation, the solutions need to also address the supply of social and affordable housing in the mid and longer term.

2.6. Correspondence has been received from key community sector organisations Hobart City Mission and Colony 47 advising that the City is experiencing a homeless crisis and that they are seeking the Council’s support in advocating to the State and Federal governments to take immediate measures to support the community services sector to respond to the crisis.

2.7. Shelter Tasmania has provided advice that they would be happy to meet with the City of Hobart’s General Manager to discuss housing and homelessness issues and how best to respond to the chronic issues in Hobart and more broadly. They have noted that it is important to have a coherent and systematic response across State and Local Government to ensure the most effective options are considered and implemented, and to avoid fragmented or duplicated responses – whether local, regional or state-wide.

3. Recommendation

That:

1. The Council call on the State and Federal Government to deliver immediate crisis, short, medium and long term housing and associated services to support the community services sector in responding to the current housing and homelessness crisis.

2. Council officers participate in and support relevant working groups and forums that will be investigating opportunities to respond to the current homelessness and housing crisis.

4. Background

4.1. It is difficult to quantify in numbers the exact amount of people experiencing primarily homelessness, as a formal count of rough sleepers is not undertaken in Hobart. Anecdotally, service providers are reporting that there are approximately 120 primary homeless people in Greater Hobart at the current time.

4.2. The figures for homelessness (in all three tiers) across from the 2016 census data show that 1,622 Tasmanians were homeless. The advice from service providers is that this figure would have increased. The Shelter Tasmania. Fact Sheet based on the 2016 census data is shown as Attachment C and an Australian Institute of Health and Welfare fact sheet on Specialist Homelessness services 2017/18 in Tasmania is shown at Attachment D.

4.3. It is noted that on the morning of 3 June 2019 there were 40 people sleeping rough in tents and swags on the Domain alone. It is reported that there would be another 40 sleeping rough across Hobart CBD. It is noted that this number varies considerably with rain or extreme weather, when people temporarily locate to drier spaces if possible.

4.4. There has also been an increase of the number of people sleeping in cars in a range of locations across the city.

4.5. The three categories of homelessness are determined as follows:

· Primary homelessness - where a person has an improvised dwelling, tent or no accommodation at all; also known as ‘rough sleeping’.

· Secondary homelessness - where a person is accommodated in a hostel, shelter, refuge or another person’s home on a temporary basis.

· Tertiary homelessness - where a person is accommodated in a boarding house, shelter or hotel on a medium term basis.

4.6. Kate Colvin, Everybody’s Home campaign spokesperson recently outlined the reasons for people becoming homelessness nationally:

· 40% due to affordability (overcrowding, evictions)

· 30% due to family and domestic violence

· It was noted that around 10% of homelessness could be attributed to mental health, alcohol and other drugs, gambling and released prisoners

· 23% of those seeking support are turned away with providers being unable to meet demand

· Increases in the cost of rental properties are being felt most at the lower end of the market, with little affordable rentals and social housing available in capital cities.

4.7. It is noted that according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report 2017/18, in Tasmania the reasons for clients seeking homelessness assistance are as follows:

· Housing crisis (58% compared with 39% nationally)

· Financial difficulties (40% compared to 39% nationally)

· Inadequate or inappropriate dwelling conditions (39% compared with 24%)

5. Proposal and Implementation

5.1. It is proposed that the Council call on the State and Federal Government to deliver immediate crisis, short, medium and long term housing and associated services to support the community services sector in responding to the current housing and homelessness crisis.

5.2. Council officers participate in and support relevant working groups or forums that will be investigating opportunities to respond to the current homelessness and housing crisis.

6. Strategic Planning and Policy Considerations

6.1. The Council’s Community Vision identified the importance of embracing the community members who live in and access the city. Pillar 2 is Community Inclusion, Participation and Belonging. This clearly recognises the importance of inclusion, and celebrating our diversity and including each other in City life in action 2.2.

6.2. The Social Inclusion Strategy also clearly identifies the importance of the fundamental right of every individual to have equal opportunity to participate socially, culturally, economically, physically, spiritually and politically in society. The exercise of these rights benefits everyone and is the fundamental building block for maintaining healthy and whole communities.

6.3. Social exclusion occurs when disadvantage experienced by individuals, families and communities make it difficult for them to participate in community life - these can include unemployment, low income, intergenerational poverty, addiction, low literacy or numeracy, lack of access to services, homelessness, disability, poor health, mental health issues, discrimination and/or locational disadvantage.

6.4. The Affordable Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2016-2019 (currently under review) also clearly articulates the role that the Council has in advocating for and supporting the most marginalised and vulnerable members of the community.

7. Financial Implications

7.1. Funding Source and Impact on Current Year Operating Result

7.1.1. There are minimal direct financial impacts resulting from this report apart from potential support for forums/meetings through the provision of catering or meeting spaces funded through existing budget allocations.

7.2. Impact on Future Years’ Financial Result

7.2.1. If further support is requested by the Community Sector apart from catering, or the provision of forum/meeting space, a further report would be provided to the Council for consideration.

7.3. Asset Related Implications

7.3.1. There are no asset related implications from this report.

8. Legal, Risk and Legislative Considerations

8.1. There are no legal, risk or legislative requirements resulting from this report.

9. Social and Customer Considerations

9.1. With the colder weather arriving the number of community members experiencing homelessness due to the unaffordability of housing in Hobart is becoming more visible with increasing numbers of people sleeping rough, in cars and couch surfing.

9.2. The growing pressures on social and affordable housing in Greater Hobart, Tasmania and across all Australian Cities has resulted in a sharp increase in housing stress and homelessness across the country.

9.3. It is acknowledged that the direct provision of housing and homelessness services is not the role of Local government, however it is the City’s role to advocate for all members of the community and to support the Community Services Sector who operate in our city and support our most vulnerable citizens.

9.4. The information being provided by the Community Services Sector is that they are in a very difficult position where all crisis accommodation is at capacity, and the options for transitioning people sleeping rough into crisis and short term accommodation is extremely limited.

9.5. It is acknowledged that the current housing shortage needs action across the housing spectrum and that although there is a strong current focus on crisis and short term accommodation, the solutions need to also address the supply of social and affordable housing in the mid and longer term.

10. Marketing and Media

10.1. It is noted that the issue of homelessness within the City has been the subject of many media reports over the past few weeks with increasing community concern as winter approaches and an expectation that all levels of government have a role to play in addressing this issue.

10.2. It is acknowledged that there may be community members who vocalise that the provision of housing and homelessness services is not the role of Local Government. However, in line with the Social Inclusion Strategy, it is considered that it is the City’s role to advocate for all members of the community and to support the Community Services Sector who operate in our city to assist our most vulnerable citizens.

11. Community and Stakeholder Engagement

11.1. In the preparation of this report, consultation has taken place with John Stubley, Chief Executive Officer Hobart City Mission; Danny Sutton, Chief Executive Officer Colony 47; Pattie Chugg, Executive Officer Shelter Tasmania; Don Mccrae, Salvation Army; Manager Inclusive, Resilient and Creative Communities; and Community Programs Coordinator.

12. Delegation

12.1. This report is delegated to the Council for consideration.

As signatory to this report, I certify that, pursuant to Section 55(1) of the Local Government Act 1993, I hold no interest, as referred to in Section 49 of the Local Government Act 1993, in matters contained in this report.