The context for this year’s budget submission includes positive developments such as the Tasmanian Government’s Affordable Housing Strategy 2015-2025 and Action Plan 2015-2019. Nationally, the housing and homelessness sector faces uncertainty about the potential for significant change to State and Federal Governments’ roles and responsibilities for housing. The Reform of Federation process is still underway, and the Commonwealth and State approaches to services and funding are in flux. In addition, there is still no clarity about capital resources for the housing needs of National Disability Insurance Scheme participants.
New economic data, such as the analysis in the recently launched Rental Affordability Index, reinforces the concern in the Government’s Long-term plan to tackle the spiralling cost of living. The Rental Affordability Index fills a gap in our knowledge about private rental and reveals the depth of housing stress experienced by many low income tenants in the private rental market in Tasmania.
Click here for Shelter Tas’ Submission to the State Government Budget Process 2016 – 2017.