The number of people experiencing homelessness in Australia has grown 5.2% in the past five years with women and children, as well as Indigenous Australians, bearing the brunt of the housing crisis.
It has been more than one year since the City of Launceston council formalised its Homelessness Advisory Committee, with councillors noting progress is gradually being made.
The group consists of councillors from Launceston and neighbouring municipalities, council officers and stakeholders including Tasmania Police.
Launceston is not alone in dealing with homelessness, but councillors say work is being done in public and behind the scenes. Picture by Paul Scambler
Documents tabled at the July 27 council meeting provided insight into some of the committee's activities through to May 30.
These included seeking a new venue for the Green Bean Cafe's efforts to feed the city's homeless, however the committee minutes note this has been unsuccessful so far.
Committee chairman councillor Tim Walker told councillors at the July meeting that there had been successes like the initial run of physical information cards that list available support services.
"The proof is always in the pudding with these things," Cr Walker said.
"It has been encouraging to see, for example, the reach out cards that were developed by this council which provide pocket-sized information and can be distributed through a variety of sources.
"One thousand of those were printed and they have actually been distributed so there's more of being printed as we speak."
Cr Walker said the physical cards were important as they led to "equity in communication", rather than taking access to digital communication for granted.
Councillor George Razay, who also sits on the committee, said although homelessness was growing service providers had reported to the committee they were doing what they could to increase their coverage.
Cr Razay also noted there had been a big shift in how the community referred to homelessness.
"I remember last year nobody talked about homelessness, they didn't want to say anything," Cr Razay said.
"Now I see people from the community give us suggestions on how we can help the homeless people."
Councillor Hugh McKenzie noted Launceston was not the only city dealing with homelessness, and although it had taken some "prodding" the council and its partners were working hard to make a "meaningful difference".
Cr Walker said the work was far from over, and several initiatives were in the works to address underlying issues.
"I do trust councillors as well as the broader public realise that this work being done is part of a greater body of work ... creating a Homelessness Action Plan," he said.
"(This) will give Launceston the surety that we are addressing the issues behind the situation."
For reference,Western Australia’s 2020-2030 strategy on homelessness named All Paths Lead to a Home. is good reference albeit that it appears that Launceston Council on its journey seems to see little value in it.
The strategy sets out a ten-year vision for all levels of government, the community sector and the wider community can work together in Western Australia towards ending homelessness.
The adoption of HAP 2021-2024 means that 'governance' in WA can tackle the complex issues of housing and homelessness at a local level more effectively.
In order to achieve the vision that everyone has a safe place to call home, the City of Fremantle will take on roles as outlined in HAP 2021-2024. CLICK HERE FOR MULTIPLE REFERENCES
THIS committee demonstrates UNDERachievement when the need is great. It's been meeting for 18 month and all those suffering from the loss of safe HOME is a REACH OUT CARD telling where to go. Is that all there is?
COMMUNITY CO-OPERATIVE
HOUSING
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