Social housing: 13 homes for older women open at New Town

Loreto Community Housing is involved in the project. Its chief executive, Cody Burdon, said demand for social housing remains very high across Tasmania, and that land availability is a growing problem, particularly nearer the Hobart CBD.

Paul Ransley, Fairbrother’s general manager for southern Tasmania, raised a planning point. He said car parking rules tie the number of dwellings to the number of car spaces, which he said does not work in some cases and can make it harder to build more homes near public transport.

The numbers

• 13 homes: 12 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit.
• $9.4 million: total project cost.
• $5.185 million: federal contribution through the Social Housing Accelerator Payment program.
• $4.26 million: state contribution, through funding and land.

The report says the project is one of seven Tasmanian projects sharing $50 million in federal funding to deliver 128 social and affordable housing homes.

All 13 units meet the silver level of the Liveable Housing Design Guidelines, and the bathrooms meet the gold level, a standard the report says helps residents stay in their homes as they age.

What the minister said

Housing Minister Kerry Vincent said: “These 13 new homes will give women aged 55 and over greater security and independence.” Labor Senator Carol Brown said women are disproportionately affected by homelessness and housing insecurity.

What’s next

Homes Tasmania chief executive Ben Wilson said more than 5,500 homes have been delivered toward the government’s target of 10,000 social and affordable homes by 2032, with more than 284 under construction across the state. Mr Vincent said 135 homes are expected to be completed before Christmas. The report does not describe any further stage for this particular site.