2023 Homelessness Awareness Breakfast

Corey McGrath – Vinnies State President ,Minister Nic Street , Heather Kent – Vinnies CEO , Minister Guy Barnett , Simon Terhell- Vinnies Youth and Community Services Manager – South

The St Vincent De Paul Society (Vinnies) is holding its annual Homelessness Awareness breakfast at Legacy Park on the Queen’s Domain as part of Homelessness Awareness Week which commenced on 7 August.

Among the attendees will be a current resident of Bethlehem House, who will be speaking candidly about homelessness from his firsthand experience. Bethlehem House is a St Vincent De Paul Tasmania Special Work organisation.

The 2023 Homelessness Awareness Week theme is ‘it’s time to end homelessness’ and organisations across the sector are seeking to assist this by raising awareness of those experiencing homelessness, including the issues they face, and the action needed to implement effective solutions. 

120,000 Tasmanians live below the poverty line and in the 2021 census the total number of people experiencing homelessness in Tasmania was 2,350, a 45 per cent increase from 2016. As housing and rental costs keep rising, Vinnies is seeing more Tasmanians earning low and moderate incomes unable to find affordable accommodation. 

Recent Census figures show that on any given night in Tasmania there were around 230 Tasmanians sleeping rough or in improvised dwellings. But a further 2,120 people were without a safe, stable or appropriate roof over their heads each night. These people are often hidden from view, including those staying temporarily with others (couch surfing), in emergency shelters or in overcrowded dwellings.

As a consequence of the increasing challenges faced across the community, the number of people using homelessness services per month has increased by eight per cent during the last four years. Significantly, this is double the growth in the national household population and yet social housing now comprises only four per cent of housing supply compared with almost six per cent in 1996.

Vinnies Tasmania Chief Executive Officer Heather Kent said people could become homeless for many reasons including loss of income or employment, the lack of affordable housing and family breakdowns including domestic violence.

“For some Tasmanians homelessness is temporary but for too many others the pursuit of safe, affordable housing is incredibly difficult and these people go far too long without a place to call home and the impact on their lives is dramatic,” she said.

“This is an important event as it provides everyone who attends with an opportunity to hear from those who have experienced homelessness. It delivers scope to understand the work that is being done by individuals and organisations attempting to assist those currently experiencing homelessness, while also deepening awareness that so much more is still to be achieved.

“We have reached a critical point in Tasmania where we are in desperate need of social and affordable housing to assist the exponential number of people experiencing homelessness.”

Vinnies is encouraging all governments to work together in solving the pressures of homelessness by adopting collaborative and creative solutions. Vinnies welcomes the elevation of the Minister for Housing and Homelessness to Federal Cabinet, the widening of the National Housing Infrastructure Facility and the establishment of a National Housing Supply and Affordability Council. But still more needs to be done.

The event will include the Louis Van which will provide a basic breakfast for the many expected to attend.