Housing means hope for the future

Anglicare’s latest Housing Connect Front Door Snapshot highlights the urgent need for more pathways to secure and affordable housing for young Tasmanians.

Coordinator of Anglicare’s Social Action and Research Centre Ginny Toombs said the number of young people aged 16-17 who were seeking assistance without the support of a parent or legal guardian was alarming:

There were 90 individual young people aged 16-17 years supported by the Front Door during the March quarter, and 62% had been homeless in the last 12 months.

“These young people were unable to live with their parents or guardians due to family conflict and relationship breakdown, including domestic and family violence, and their parents’ use of alcohol and/or drugs in the home,” she said. “Some young people were transitioning from out-of-home care. Instead, they’re couch-surfing, living with extended family members or a partner, sometimes in substandard dwellings such as unpowered caravans.”

Ms Toombs said most young people listed housing crisis, such as eviction, as the main reason they were seeking support.

“Young people are generally unable to afford private rentals or access long-term social housing. This restricts their pathways to crisis shelters and transitional, supported accommodation such as the Youth2Independence program,” she said. “There are simply not enough places to meet demand in the shelter system, and while the Youth2Independence model is an excellent one for young people who are ready to engage or already engaged with education and employment, many are simply not ready for this model. They deserve alternatives that meet their current needs and support them as they move towards adulthood.”

Data for the quarter to March 2026 shows that long-term housing was a need identified by 66% of clients supported by the service. However, due to a lack of available and affordable housing, only 12% of people had their housing needs met, down from 28% for the same period last year.

The Housing Connect Front Door Snapshot continues to recommend that the Australian Government raise the rate of income support payments. It also recommends that the Tasmanian Government:

• directly targets the revenue from the short-stay levy towards supporting Tasmanians least able to afford housing, including young people
• funds the delivery of more crisis and transitional accommodation and long-term homes that meet the needs of young people
• works with the Australian Government to scale up investment in long-term social housing.

Ellie’s story*

When 16-year-old Ellie walked into the Housing Connect Front Door, she had already been through more than most people her age. For the past month, she had been staying at a youth shelter, having made the difficult decision to leave her family home after it became unsafe for her.

Ellie had experienced neglect and ongoing verbal, emotional and physical abuse from her mother. Her father had previously been assessed as unable to care for her, leaving her without a safe parental figure to turn to.

Ellie showed a lot of resilience. When she first sought support, she was navigating mental health challenges due to her circumstances. Housing Connect staff connected her to a range of support services, including a youth mental health service, which was an important step toward understanding and managing her wellbeing.

Ellie received assistance to apply for Centrelink income support payments to give her a more secure financial footing. She began to build some stability and was referred to the Youth2Independence (Y2I) program. Ellie has since moved into her own unit in Y2I accommodation. In this new space, she has begun to find a sense of safety and independence.

Now Ellie is turning her attention to the future, continuing her education and exploring pathways into employment. She is moving forward with strength, building a life that looks very different from the one she left behind.

*We have changed the individual’s name to protect their privacy.

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.