Housing Connect was implemented in 2013 with the intention of reviewing and maturing the system after several years.
Read more about the Housing Connect system here.
During 2018-19, the Brotherhood of St Laurence Research and Policy Centre (BSL) was engaged to review the Housing Connect system and provide recommendations that would better enable Tasmanians in housing crisis to build their capabilities and opportunities to find and keep a safe and affordable home and live a good life.
The review reflected on the range of structural, community, familial and individual issues affecting homelessness, but emphasised the root cause of homelessness is income poverty and disadvantage.
Changing poverty and disadvantage is possible through more effective government policy and service models and community action. It involves increasing the supply of housing that meets a range of household types and life stages, while reducing demand by building people’s capabilities and their capacity to live independently and have a good life.
BSL’s recommendations were endorsed by the Housing Connect Partners Group in 2019 and formed the basis of the Housing Connect reform project.
A steering committee was established in 2019 to oversee the reform project. The membership of this committee comprised the existing partner’s group, representatives from crisis accommodation providers, Shelter Tasmania and Homes Tasmania, and an independent chairperson. An independent chair was essential to enable shared leadership and shared responsibility for the introduction of the new system.
Housing Connect reform updates
Housing Connect workers were kept updated on the reform project through regular communiques, which can be found below.