Housing essential for mental health
August 5, 2025
Governments can improve the mental health of Tasmanians through major investment in affordable housing, says Anglicare Tasmania and the Mental Health Council of Tasmania.
This Homelessness Week, the organisations described the life-changing importance of supported accommodation for people who live with mental health conditions.
“Stable housing has a positive impact on people’s mental health, but there is currently a massive shortage,” said Mary Bennett, Coordinator of Anglicare’s Social Action and Research Centre.
“Our State requires more accommodation suitable for people experiencing acute mental health episodes or with poorly managed mental health symptoms. It’s also crucial to have long-term supported accommodation designed and delivered in a way that meets the needs of people with mental health conditions.”
In the past year, the Front Door service responded to 48,662 enquiries from people seeking housing support. Ms Bennett said that over the past 12 months it had become increasingly difficult for people to access safe and affordable housing. “Rental vacancy rates are lower across every region in the State, rents have risen almost twice as fast as income and the social housing register has grown by 10% to a record 5,163 applications,” she said.
Ms Bennett called on governments to scale up their investment in social housing and supported accommodation.
“People need housing certainty and security; their mental health improves and it supports their recovery,” she said.
Mental Health Council of Tasmania CEO Dan Vautin said supported accommodation was an essential psychosocial support that needed to be available to more Tasmanians.
“We know that it makes a significant difference to people’s mental health and wellbeing,” he said. “Access to safe and affordable housing results in fewer hospital admissions and re-admissions and provides people with better education and employment prospects. This has positive flow-on effects for family members including children, and for the wider community.”
Background
The Housing Connect Front Door is the entry point for housing assistance in Tasmania. It is where people can get information about housing options and other supports. It can assist people to apply for social housing or to secure or maintain a private rental tenancy.
Anglicare delivers this service from its offices in Hobart, Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, as well as providing outreach at various community locations.
The Housing Connect Front Door does not make decisions about how social housing is allocated to people waiting for a home. Homes Tasmania manages the Housing Register in Tasmania.
