Supplementary Agenda of Community, Culture and Events Committee Meeting

Supplementary Agenda (Open Portion)

Community, Culture and Events Committee Meeting

Page 2

10/7/2019

The General Manager reports:

“That in accordance with the provisions of Part 2 Regulation 8(6) of the Local Government (Meeting Procedures) Regulations 2015, these supplementary matters are submitted for the consideration of the Committee.

Pursuant to Regulation 8(6), I report that:

(a) information in relation to the matter was provided subsequent to the distribution of the agenda;

(b) the matter is regarded as urgent; and

Item No. 11

Supplementary Agenda (Open Portion)

Community, Culture and Events Committee Meeting

Page 4

10/7/2019

Memorandum: Community, Culture and Events Committee

Housing with Dignity Reference Group Update

Introduction

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide the Council with an update of initiatives to be progressed following the recent Housing with Dignity Reference Group (HWDRG). The notes from this meeting are shown as Attachment A.

The HWDRG has now met on three occasions and is progressing with specific actions in line with the priority areas that the group has identified.

Background

On 18 February 2019, the Council approved the establishment of a Housing with Dignity Reference Group comprising community members with a lived experience of homelessness or extreme housing stress.

The group has now been formed and comprises a diverse mix of people with a lived experience of homelessness including: representatives from Bethlehem House; Trinity Hill; UTAS student voice; older people; Common Ground Campbell Street; Goulburn Street facility residents; people who have experienced shelters and chronic housing stress.

The reference group met twice in April and most recently on 25 June. The group has resolved to meet monthly for the rest of the year.

Key Actions / Initiatives

Media

It was noted that members of the Committee have recently been interviewed on ABC radio and that the visibility of this group is important it terms of promoting the changing face of homelessness.

It was resolved that an opinion piece for the Mercury newspaper be prepared within the next week by the Co-Chairs on behalf of the group and that a communications/media plan be developed to guide the group narrative for the next six months.

Priority Area 1 – Data Information

The availability of reliable data with a projection of future social and affordable housing needs over the next five years was further discussed with a resolution that the Co-Chairs write to the Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance identifying this key issue.

Priority Area 2 – Breaking down the stigma

The group agreed to take an active role in sharing their individual stories through a storytelling type project and to change the narrative from a homeless person to “a person without a home”. This will involve communicating the broadness and complex nature of this issue and sharing the different faces, as a worker/mother/older person. The group will work towards gathering a story from each participant and developing a project to share the stories.

Priority Area 3 - Community Housing Models

The group agreed that it has a strong interest in looking at opportunities currently being discussed to assist in the immediate crisis to see where they can provide tangible support.

The group are also interested in looking at supported housing models that operate in other states and areas that are successful and could be translated into a Hobart environment. One model mentioned was ‘Stable One’ - a Christian charity that operates winter night shelters in the Yarra Ranges. It was resolved that a range of potential models be considered and investigated by members of the group for further action and advocacy.

The group also agreed that it needs to have a target to work towards to deliver tangible outcomes for people without a home. The agreed target is an increase of 10 beds per night in Greater Hobart.

REcommendation

That the Council note the minutes from the Housing with Dignity Reference Group on 25 June and endorse the key initiatives and actions that members of the group will be progressing.

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.

tims short

Tim Short

Director Community Life

Date: 9 July 2019

File Reference: F19/92942; 17/239

Attachment a: Meeting notes ⇩