Housing for all Tasmanians

Anglicare is an experienced provider of important housing services to Tasmanians.

In the lead-up to Homelessness Week this video reflects on our 40 years of service and shares how the Youth2Independence program is supporting young Tasmanians to flourish.

Anglicare delivers a broad range of housing services on behalf of Homes Tasmania, including Youth2Independence in the South, North and North West and the Housing Connect Front Door service in the North and North West.

Our frontline housing and community services assist people to maintain their tenancies and avoid homelessness.  We also manage a variety of accommodation facilities around the State.

Anglicare CEO Chris Jones said that when the organisation began operating in the 1980s, mortgage interest rates were 18%.

“Today, mortgage interest rates have risen again and many people are struggling to find and afford housing that suits their circumstances,” he said. “Anglicare welcomes measures to increase social and affordable housing. Everyone needs a stable home and there is currently a serious shortfall that is impacting lives.”

The early years

Jennifer Wallis helped to pioneer the expansion of Anglicare’s housing service into the North West. She managed the service for 10 years from 1985-1995. Her background was in nursing and shelter-based support work, and she found her new role challenging and rewarding in equal measure.

The team grew over the years, setting up an accommodation facility for older men and managing some housing units so that families could stay together. Jennifer enjoyed speaking to local service clubs and parishioners about the value of community outreach.

“Because we worked out in the field we were coming across things that we hadn’t expected to find,” she said. “This included young people who wanted to be independent, but they didn’t have the skills.”

A roof is just the beginning

Today, Anglicare manages the Youth2Independence (Y2I) program. in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport that houses and support young people aged 16-24 who either have been homeless, or who are at risk of becoming homeless A second facility in Hobart is expected to open by the end of the year.

Students are supported to continue their education, gain employment qualifications and become active citizens in their local communities. They receive one-to-one coaching so that they can identify their strengths and set personal goals.

“There are so many opportunities for them to develop and grow,” says Sherry Quarrell, Site Supervisor at Thyne House in Launceston. “They transition into the community knowing that they are a valued part of the community.”

Homelessness Week

Homelessness Week is August 7-13. It’s held to raise awareness of people’s experiences of homelessness and the importance of housing as a solution.

Take a look at the calendar of Homelessness Week activities happening across the State.

A highlight during the week will be a graduation ceremony at the Youth2Independence program’s Eveline House in Devonport. Eight students will graduate from the Certificate 1 in Independence course- a core component of the Y2I program and offered in partnership with TasTAFE.

Strong advocacy

Anglicare recently made a submission to the Tasmanian Government’s Draft 20 year Housing Strategy.

We applauded the Government’s acknowledgement that housing is a fundamental right and a social determinant of health. We also identified some priority areas where the Strategy could be strengthened including a focus on addressing the housing needs of people with disability and young people aged under 18 who are experiencing intimate partner violence. Anglicare reiterated the importance of having a healthy housing market with sustainable rental vacancy rates.

MAIN PHOTO: Thyne House in Launceston provides 50 self-contained units for young people