ANNUAL REPORT 2014 - Shelter Tasmania · ANNUAL REPORT 2014 GPO Box 848 Hobart Tasmania 7001 P: 03 6224 5488 I M: 0419 536 100 I E: [email protected] Housing and Homelessness Peak

ANNUAL REPORT 2014

www.sheltertas.org.au

GPO Box 848 Hobart Tasmania 7001 P: 03 6224 5488 I M: 0419 536 100 I E: [email protected]

Housing and Homelessness Peak

Supported by the Crown through the Department of Health and Human Services.

SHELTER TAS ANNUAL REPORT 2014 1

About Shelter Tas 2

Our Team 3

Management Committee and Staff 4

Representations 2013-14 5

Chair’s Report 6

North West Committee Members’ Report 8

Northern Committee Members’ Report 10

Southern Committee Members’ Report 12

Homelessness Australia and Council for Homeless Persons Australia Report 14

National Shelter Report 15

Shelter Tas Report on Activities 16

Executive Officer’s Report 19

Community Housing Federation of Australia Report 21

Treasurer’s Report 23

Financial Statement 24

Contents

SHELTER TAS ANNUAL REPORT 20142

Shelter Tasmania is an independent not-for-profit housing and homelessness peak organisation funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. Shelter Tas represents the interest of housing consumers on low incomes and housing providers across Tasmania.

Shelter Tas’ membership consists of a wide range of housing and supported accommodation services, tenant groups, local government, community organisations and individuals interested in housing.

The Council of Homeless Persons Tasmania is a subcommittee of Shelter Tas. Shelter Tas aims to provide an effective Tasmanian voice on housing and related issues by fulfilling the following objectives:

• To promote and maintain the right of every person to access affordable, safe and secure long term housing that they identify as appropriate to their needs.

• To promote and maintain the right of every person to housing of a quality which enhances people’s health, well-being, dignity and life opportunities.

• To promote the benefits of public and community housing in the community and across all levels of government.

• To publish, research, collect and disseminate information on matters relating to the provision of housing, particularly for people on low to moderate incomes.

About Shelter Tas

Affordable, appropriate, safe and secure housing for all and an end to homelessness.

To provide a united voice for services and service users that creates a framework

to effect positive change in the housing and homelessness sector.

Vision

Mission


Phil Hoffen Proxy Committee Member

David Priddle Proxy Committee Member

Michael LynchFinance Officer

Leonnie Hyde Committee Member

Ray Green Proxy Committee Member

Shane LeonardCommittee Member

Louise Beiser Proxy Committee Member

Trudy Kuilenburg Administration Officer

Ria Brink Committee Member

Meredith Barton Committee Member

Stephen Hill Committee Member

Andrea Witt Chair

Belinda Jones Vice Chair

Pattie Chugg Executive Officer

Jed Donoghue Secretary

Amanda Henri Proxy Committee Member

Cynthia Townley Policy Officer

John Stubley Treasurer

N’didi Okwechime Proxy Committee Member

Lisa Roberts Committee member

Meg Williams Publication & Information Officer

Michael DouglasCommittee Member

Jenny Bertram Public Officer

Natalie LoAdmin Support Officer

Matthew DrakeProxy Committee Member

Annette Clark Proxy Committee Member

Ros Atkinson Proxy Committee Member

Our Team


Shelter TasmaniaManagement Committee(including the Executive) 2013-2014

CHAIRAndrea Witt Centacare

VICE CHAIR Belinda Jones Anglicare Accommodation Service

SECRETARY Jed Donoghue Salvation Army Housing and Homelessness Services

TREASURER John Stubley Hobart City Mission

PUBLIC OFFICER Jenny Bertram Magnolia Place

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OFFICER Belinda Jones Anglicare

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Andrea Witt Centacare

Meredith Barton Tenants’ Union Tasmania Proxy - Phil Hoffen

Lisa Roberts Housing Choices TasmaniaProxy - Matthew Drake

Stephen Hill Launceston City Mission Proxy - Ray Green

Jed Donoghue Salvation Army Housing & Homelessness Services Proxy - David Priddle

Shane Leonard Youth, Family & Community ConnectionsProxy - Ros Atkinson

John StubleyHobart City MissionProxy - Annette Clark

Belinda Jones Anglicare North Proxy - Louise Bieser

Jenny Bertram Magnolia Place, Launceston Women’s Shelter Proxy - Amanda Henri

Ria Brink Karinya Young Women’s Service

Michael Douglas Colony 47 Proxy - N’didi Okwechime

Leonnie Hyde Community Housing Ltd

Management Committee and Staff

Management Committee Meetings Held 2013-14

AUGUST 2013 Wednesday 7

SEPTEMBER Wednesday 25

OCTOBER Thursday 7

NOVEMBER Friday 29 (AGM)

FEBRUARY 2014 Wednesday 12

MARCHWednesday 26

MAY Wednesday 14

JUNE Wednesday 18

EXECUTIVE OFFICER Pattie Chugg (1 FTE)

POLICY OFFICER Cynthia Townley (.8 FTE)

PUBLICATION & INFORMATION OFFICER Meg Williams (.6 FTE)

Shelter Tasmania Staff 2013-2014

ADMINISTRATION OFFICER Trudy Kuilenburg (.3 FTE)

FINANCIAL OFFICER Michael Lynch (Casual)

ADMIN SUPPORT OFFICER Natalie Lo (Casual)


Representations for 2013-2014Shelter Tasmania represents the housing and homelessness sector on a number of committees and working groups and provides State and National delegates to the following:

National FocusNational Shelter• National Council Meetings – Adelaide & Sydney• National Policy Officers’ Network

Council of Homeless Persons Australia• Board Member and State reports

Homelessness Australia• Board Member• National Peak teleconferences

Community Housing Federation of Australia• State Peak contact• State delegates and State reports• National Policy Officers’ Network

National Advisory Group for National Regulation System for Community Housing• State delegate

Tasmanian FocusAdvice to Government • Meetings with the Minister for Human Services• Meetings with Shadow Minister for Housing and Homelessness• Meetings with the Minister’s advisors• Member of Minister’s Roundtable on Affordable

Housing Strategy

Housing and Homelessness Reform• Chair of Tasmanian Youth Housing and Homeless

Working Group• Member of the Affordable Housing Steering Group• Member of Joined Up Service System Tasmania project• Member Housing Connect Marketing and Promotional Working Group• Member Housing Connect Southern Working Group• Member Homelessness Reference Group• Member Regulation of Not-for-Profit Housing Advisory Committee• Member Homelessness Data Collection • Member Common Waiting List/Assessment Tool• Member Supported Accommodation Facilities Working Group

Capacity Building, Leadership and Partnerships• Community Sector Peaks and Government Strategic

Forum

• Equal Remuneration Reference and Working Groups• Community Sector Peaks Network • Chair Community Housing Capacity Building Reference Group• Shelter Tas partnership with Centre for Training in Social Housing and Skills Tasmania to deliver social housing training• Mental Health and Homelessness meetings • Partners in Recovery Reference Group • Ageing and Housing Working Group• Policy Officer Network Meetings• Community sector Workforce Development Round Table • Chair of Workforce Development Plan for homelessness sector• NDIS and Housing Group

Consumer Engagement• Chair Consumer Engagement Strategy Reference

Group

Housing Tasmania • Affordable Housing Strategy Steering Group and Working Groups• Shelter Executive/Housing Tasmania Meetings• Three Strikes working group• Training Advisory Meetings

Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) • Chair and member SHS North/Northwest and Southern Service Meeting • Chair of Statewide SHS Forum

Consumer Affairs and Fair Trading• Member of the Residential Tenancy Act Review Committee• Member of RTA Amendments Working Group

Other• Member Hobart City Council Social Inclusion Advisory

Group• Member Women’s Emergency Service Providers

(WESP)

Public Comment and Conference Presentations• Range of media interviews and media releases• Guest speaker H.E.L.P Film Festival• Judge Community Housing National Gardening

Competition

Research• Contributed to a range of research topics,

consultations and assisted students.

Management Committee and Staff


Chair’s Report Shelter taSmania continues to be an active and effective Peak for housing and homelessness services in the State. We are blessed by a committed and dedicated team, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their tireless efforts in working towards a more equitable and just housing system and the elimination of homelessness. In particular I would like to thank Pattie Chugg, Cynthia Townley, Pauline Marsh, Trudy Kuilenburg, Meg Williams, Mick Lynch and Natalie Lo for making Shelter Tas as productive as it has been during the 2013 -2014 period, including representing our members and their clients with such commitment and dedication. I would also like to thank the Shelter Management Committee and Executive for the direction, support and leadership that has assisted the Shelter Tas team achieve such significant outcomes over the last year.

I would also like to acknowledge with appreciation the support of the Human Services Minister, Jacquie Petrusma, previous Minister, Cassy O’Connor and their staff. Also the Deputy Secretary, Mercia Bresnehan, the Director of Housing Tasmania, Peter White, and their teams. Shelter Tas recognises that the relationship we have with Government is a significant contributor to the strength of the sector in Tasmania.

In 2013-14 we have seen the actualisation of the last few years of reviews and policy reform for both housing and homelessness. This year has seen the roll-out of stage two of Better Housing Futures, where Centacare Evolve, Community Housing Ltd and Housing Options have joined Mission Australia in the delivery of Tasmania’s community social housing. Along with Housing Tasmania we hope to see these organisations continue to deliver quality, affordable and secure housing for those Tasmanians who require it. It is hoped that these reforms will result in improved maintenance responses and provide scope for the growth of the social housing sector, which we hope will translate to more housing over time, reduced waiting lists and lower waiting times for repairs and maintenance. So far all organisations have been able to achieve targets in existing tenant sign-over, and feedback today from residents is positive. The introduction of other housing providers has seen an increase in stakeholders which we hope will add to the voice for the needs of tenants and those on the social housing waiting list.

2013 saw a review of our homelessness service system and recommendations for a significant change in the model for how homeless and housing services are accessed and how support is delivered. Housing Connect formed, through the collaboration of five organisations a ‘front door’ through which Tasmanians are able to access:• social housing (through application)• information and advice regarding housing and

homelessness response options• bond and rental assistance

• emergency accommodation• ongoing support for tenancy or homelessness

response.

Shelter Tas has been active in ensuring our members’ voice, and the interests of their clients have been represented throughout the implementation of both these significant changes. We have been able to provide information and feedback from other States that have undergone similar reform.

Shelter Tas has remained active in:• advocating for young people requiring housing

through the Tasmanian Youth Housing and Homelessness Group (TYHHG).

• Working with Government and community organisations in the planning for a development of a youth accommodation facility in the South (Trinity Hill), whilst advocating for a third facility for the North West.

• Working with Housing Tasmania, the University of Tasmania and homelessness services to develop a Consumer Engagement Strategy for clients of the homelessness sector, due for completion late 2015.

• Development and delivery of a Workforce Development Plan for homelessness services.

• Continuing to build the capacity of the sector in providing accredited training in social housing.

• Working with Government to reform the Residential Tenancy Act to improve outcomes for those advocating for the rights of Tasmanians who access private and social housing.

• Working with the housing and homelessness sector to present the needs of Tasmanians to all political parties during the lead-up to the 2014 elections.

Being an election year, 2014 has seen Shelter Tas working with the sector to ensure housing and homelessness continues to be seen as an issue requiring the attention and commitment of Government. We have developed a number of papers to ensure critical issues are understood and have provided advice and options to address sector concerns.

We look with trepidation towards 2015, acknowledging that the year to come is not likely to see any significant financial investment. With the Federal Government announcing the end of NRAS and providing no clarity on the continuation of NPAH dollars, Shelter Tas is concerned that housing and homelessness will miss out on desperately needed investment to maintain and further any of the positive policies which have commenced. To this end, Shelter Tas will continue to represent our sector and the voices of our members - aiming for an affordable, appropriate, safe and secure housing system and an end to homelessness.

Andrea (Andy) Witt Chair.



North West Committee Members’ Report in the north WeSt region this year major changes and achievements have been the transfer of 1,175 Housing Tasmania properties to community housing providers through Better Housing Futures and the introduction of the Housing Connect gateway. Youth and Family Focus merged with Community Connections to form Youth, Family and Community Connections (YFCC).

High occupancy rates in both private and public housing stock limit the availability of housing options in the North West. On a positive note, this year Warrawee has experienced much improved housing outcomes for residents, both in the public and private sectors. The tough economic climate in our region has created a more competitive rental market, with more properties available. However, residents’ capacity to access the private market is often impacted by substantial debts, such as Aurora debts, resulting in bad credit checks.

The aged and youth cohorts are still the most at risk of homelessness throughout North and North West Tasmania. It is difficult to gauge the numbers of youth who are homeless, as they tend to couch-surf and may be less engaged with Housing Connect and other services. Government has announced another facility to be built in the Devonport area, which over time will help to meet this need. Community Housing Ltd reported that the North West is still following the trend for aged homeless. This is concerning, as limited suitable stock in the North West makes placing applicants difficult. Only Grove St has one bedroom accommodation, and vacancies rarely occur.

Anglicare NW reports Housing Connect celebrated its first birthday on 1st October 2014. Housing Connect’s service will be significantly improved by the enhanced SHIP database, due for release at the start of December. This will streamline referral processes within Housing Connect.

In 11 months the Housing Connect ‘front door’ services in Burnie and Devonport have had 6,532 client contacts including:• 1,470 applications for private rental assistance• 1,254 applications or transfers for social housing• 738 referrals to Housing Connect support workers.

YFCC Crisis Accommodation Support Services (CASS) notes the lack of long-term accommodation/housing for the 15 – 17 year age group in the North West, but reports positive life outcomes for the 144 clients who were case-managed. The biggest success this year again has been the reunification of young people with their families (60%).

YFCC Transitional Accommodation Support Services (TASS) covers the Burnie and Devonport areas with

a current property pool of 25 one and two bedroom units, but demand still outstrips supply for long-term accommodation in the North West. TASS supported a total of 121 Clients in the 2013-2014 year, 44 through outreach services and 75 through accommodation in transitional housing.

The annual H.E.L.P (Homelessness: End Loneliness and Poverty) Film Festival focussed on the costs of homelessness to families, communities and governments. H.E.L.P entries involve school students making films about their perspectives on homelessness, to be judged by youth workers, clients (current and historical) and community members. 68 students participated in the filming, 119 in the launch and the 12 entries received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the 111 people who attended the screening.

Burnie Lodge (30 bed communal facility for singles and couples over 18 years old) has undergone a significant upgrade by Housing Tasmania. All 30 units have been completely transformed inside and out, and the commercial kitchen has been fully refurbished. These upgrades have significantly improved the residents’ quality of life at the Lodge. As the weather improves, residents are talking about going on day trips to the Great Lakes and fishing expeditions.

Grove House (20 bed long-term accommodation for singles and couples aged 18 and over) houses an age group ranging from 18 to 74, with about a quarter under 25 years old. It has been fully tenanted this past year. The people who live at Grove House are very active in their local Ulverstone community and around Grove House itself. There is an avid gardening group who have again received a gardening award from CHL, and a cooking group who cater for small events at the House. Tenants participated in the ‘Know your Odds’ (problem gambling) ‘flash mob’ competition and received a ‘highly commended’ award, taking out $1,000. There is little turnover, as Community Housing Ltd (CHL) promotes long-term housing and its tenant group includes those in need of security of tenure. The model is sound and could be applied successfully to other projects, existing or newly built. Warrawee has had an increase in the total number of residents, with 250 women and children accessing the service’s accommodation in the 12 months ending August 30th 2014, with domestic violence being the main reason for presentation. The communal living shelter accommodated 75 women and 81 children, and the off-site units housed 58 women and 56 children. This year about 50% of adult residents were single women, presenting without children and living on Newstart. Supporting this client group poses


great challenges for our staff, as these women find accommodation options extremely limited because they are disadvantaged financially and personally with an unsustainable level of income.

West Coast Crisis Accommodation Referral Service (WCCARS ) assisted 39 clients/families this year. WCCARS leases 4 community tenancy properties from Housing Tas; two units are for aged community members who are unable to rent via real estate, community housing or Housing Tas.

WCCARS currently manages 24 properties on behalf of West Coast Council. There are:• six properties in Queenstown• four properties in Strahan• thirteen properties in Zeehan• one property in Rosebery.

As an umbrella organisation Wyndarra offers a range of options that can assist people with multiple needs and prevent homelessness. In the last year they have accommodated a range of singles, couples and families: some for the twelve month period, others until packages of care were sourced and funded, enabling clients to move on to stable supported housing. A brokered fund of money to enable transition or resolution of issues that inhibit transition to stable accommodation has been well utilised, with the expenditure of the entire fund of $7,440 in 29 separate episodes. This amounts to an average expenditure of $256 per episode. Expenses range from immediate emergency accommodation (a night at a motel or holiday cabin) to bedding, furniture or white goods to enable people to move to more permanent accommodation.

At the same time, the past year has been difficult as complex clients present needing accommodation and support for longer periods, with barriers to long-term accommodation including: the resolution of Housing Tasmania debt to enable the transition to

accommodation; medical conditions requiring hospitalisation; no family or community supports; and no ability to resolve debt or substance abuse issues, which place greater demands on workers and organisational resources to achieve very small outcomes or gains.

Looking forward, services from the North West will continue to engage with Housing Tas to develop the Tasmanian Affordable Housing Strategy, and the Outcomes Purchasing Framework for all housing providers from crisis accommodation to community housing. Our sector will see continuous change, which will ultimately benefit those clients we all support.

I would like to thank the following for their input into this year’s report:• The Team at Warrawee • Wendy Smith, YFCC• Belinda Jones, Anglicare• Rexelle Ray, WCCARS• Cynthia McAdam, Wyndarra Centre• Sharon McCauley, Community Housing Ltd.

Finally, I would like to thank the staff and Management Committee members of Shelter Tas. The multi-regional membership of our Peak Body is an invaluable asset which provides ongoing support to all of its members.

Shane Leonard, Youth Family and Community Connections.


the folloWing report is a snapshot of what has been an incredibly hectic year for all northern services including our Peak Body for homelessness, Shelter Tasmania. 2014 saw a change of government, which brought the need to form new relationships. It is pleasing that the Minister for Human Services, Jacquie Petrusma MP, has found time to meet with homelessness services management and staff, and we thank the Minister for these opportunities.

Some words from Northern Homelessness Services:Housing Connect has again been the main focus for Anglicare North this year. The past 12 months have involved implementing new systems. Some issues will not be fully resolved until the enhanced SHIP is operational. The integration of the previous STAY program has significantly assisted service delivery in the North through reducing the large caseloads that support workers were carrying.

A Northern Regional Reference Group has brought together 12 passionate service providers from the region, who will meet in November to draft the Homelessness Action Plan. The group will also monitor the effectiveness of Housing Connect. Similar groups have formed in the North West and South.

Housing Connect after-hours service made 112 referrals last financial year to the ‘front door’ in Launceston. Of the 623 calls across the State:• 14 people described themselves as ‘itinerant’• 113 people said that a ‘relationship/family breakdown’

was why they had nowhere to stay• 92 people said they had stayed in the ‘street/park/

open’ the night before (down from 134 last year)• 358 people described themselves as having ‘no

tenure’.

Thyne House (a 30 bed youth facility in Launceston) has been delivered through a partnership by Anglicare and Community Housing Ltd (CHL) and has provided accommodation to 47 young people in the 2013-14 financial year. 77% of tenants were engaged in employment, education or training and the remainder engaged in support and/or volunteering in the community. One resident joined the Tasmanian Youth Housing and Homelessness Group (TYHHG) as the service user representative, providing fantastic input into those meetings. Things have been quite stable at Thyne House and some tenants are ready to move into more independent accommodation.

Indigo Lodge provides long-term accommodation for 30 people (singles and couples). Many of the people who choose to call Indigo Lodge home refer to the other residents as their ‘extended family’. Upgrades have started at Indigo Lodge, with all renovated rooms getting their own en suites. Residents marked National Homeless Persons’ Week with a luncheon, and invited tenants from

Thistle Street and Grove House in Ulverstone. Participants enjoyed catching up with each other, which happens a couple of times a year.

Thistle Street (a 20 bed long-term accommodation for singles and couples aged 18 and over) is a vibrant community where people live in self-contained accommodation with access to on-site support. Thistle Street is delivered in partnership by Anglicare and CHL. Over the past 12 months tenants have been working hard to further develop their living skills and participating in groups, such as weekly cooking activities. Outings, including fishing trips have been popular with tenants.

Launceston City Mission (LCM) provided accommodation to 295 individuals over the last 12 months. Occupancy, including overnight emergency accommodation, was 93% for the year, with 472 people turned away. These figures show the need is still great for those experiencing homelessness in the North of Tasmania.

LCM opened the family crisis unit at the end of 2013, to help a niche group with no options in Northern Tasmania. Crisis accommodation for fathers with children is now available. We were able to see a number of families transition from unstable and unsafe rough sleeping into secure, stable accommodation and then to a safe, long term option. We supported migrant families enduring visa issues, families with no income and families who had lost their previous home to fire. Feedback indicates that some children stop attending school due to the difficulty and pressure of living in homelessness, and the unit has helped children to continue or reconnect with school.

LCM continues to work with its stakeholders to find long-term alternatives for our clients using Orana House for crisis or long-term accommodation. This work continues to revolve around building life skills. It has been rewarding to see clients enrol in university and TAFE, support local community centres and volunteer their time to help. We are also seeing breakthroughs in the decrease of substance use, increased engagement with physical and mental health services and improved levels of self-worth and confidence.

Magnolia Place (Launceston Women’s Shelter) supported 222 women and their children this year, and was unable to accommodate 418 people. The largest age group supported was 26-35 year olds. 75% of women identified domestic/family violence as the main reason for seeking accommodation. Other reasons were due to rental property selling, relocation into the Launceston area, unaffordable rent, financial difficulties and family breakdown (not due to violence). Our family support workers supported 133 children, half under five years old, with weekly playgroups, holiday activities and art therapy. The number of young pregnant mothers increased, with some entering hospital to give birth during their time in the shelter.

Northern Committee Members’ Report


In 2014 our pet crisis shelter has been utilised more frequently. Bringing pets into the shelter can decrease distress and financial hardship for families experiencing homelessness.

In recognition of National Homeless Persons’ Week in August we hired a stall at a local shopping centre to raise awareness. Homelessness Australia provided merchandise and information. We also held a lunch for residents and staff. The Examiner newspaper published an article and photo of our community event.

The growing and concerning trend this year has been the number of women escaping particularly dangerous partners who are addicted to amphetamines or ice. Some clients also use this drug. In response, we have installed 7 new cameras and supplied personal duress alarms to all workers. In collaboration with the Salvation Army ‘Through Care’ workers we have provided drug education sessions for residents, which have been well received.

Youth Futures have again seen an increase in young males under the age of 16 accessing the shelter over the past 12 months. Members of this cohort are left floundering in the shelter system for extended periods of time, compounding trauma they have already experienced. There is no safe, secure accommodation for under-16 year olds. They are unprepared for independence, and money does not fix the issue of being homeless at 15 years of age. We have noted extremely low levels of numeracy and literacy, which will have a life-long impact. The Youth Futures dedicated team continues to provide consistent and stable encouragement to our client group.

Karinya Young Mums ’n’ Bubs program has been running for over 2 years, and currently has nine community tenancies. We have been running health and wellbeing sessions for the young parents in the program after receiving a Tasmanian Community Fund grant.

This year we have seen a higher number of 13, 14 and 15 year olds who are ‘falling through the cracks’, as appropriate supports are not available. Exit points for the younger cohort are limited, with the Northern Youth Accommodation Coalition and Thyne House being the only real options. There has also been an increase in clients using, or being involved with people using ice.

CHL, which manages three supported accommodation facilities in Ulverstone and Launceston and the NRAS properties dotted around the State, were the successful candidate for the Better Housing Futures program in the North, covering Ravenswood, Rocherlea, Mayfield, Waverley and Mowbray. CHL took over management of the properties on behalf of Housing Tas in July 2014, as the last organisation to “go live” in this program. We are looking forward to the future plans for the areas, such as creating social enterprises, upgrades to the properties, undertaking a social return on

investment study, as well as community development opportunities. To date this has been a positive experience for both the tenants and CHL. Staff numbers increased from 6 to 19, including the hiring of a State Manager. We are looking forward to further growth and positive partnerships and relationships.

In conclusion, I wish to thank all Northern members for their contribution to this report. Also, a big thank you to each member of all of our teams for their continued dedication, passion and hard work as we continue to do what we can every day to improve the lives and outcomes for the vulnerable members of the Tasmanian community. With Pauline finding employment elsewhere, we welcome Cynthia into the position of Policy Officer. Cynthia, Meg and Trudy have done a great job, with the support of some of our dedicated Executive members while Pattie was on long service leave. Thank you again, Pattie and team, for your dedication to making Shelter Tas such a fantastic and supportive Peak Body for housing and homelessness.

Jenny BertramPublic Officer,on behalf of all Northern Shelter Tas members.


Southern Committee Members’ Report thiS year has been characterised by significant change for many services in the South, particularly with the launch of Housing Connect and the Better Housing Futures reforms. Housing Connect had its official Statewide launch in October and represents a collaboration between: • Anglicare Tasmania• Colony 47• Centacare • Hobart City Mission• Salvation Army Tasmania.

These organisations are working together to deliver a new service system for people experiencing homelessness or those at risk of homelessness. While the service network has been in operation for close to 12 months, implementation is still ongoing, with an enhanced shared information platform due to come online before the end of 2014 which will create a much more efficient and cohesive service delivery system.

Further change has included the transfer of social housing applications from Housing Tasmania to Housing Connect and enhanced domestic and family violence, youth, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander pathways through the system. This year, Southern Housing Connect services provided varying levels of support to almost 16,000 people seeking assistance with bond and rent, Housing Tasmania applications, information, advice and referral, crisis support and case management.

The first Southern Housing Connect regional forum was also held this year, with the goal of establishing a Regional Reference Group to identify and seek solutions for service gaps; to advocate and inform policy development; and to provide a monitoring role with regards to the strategic direction of Housing Connect. The forum was highly successful, with a group of 15 stakeholders from a broad range of government and community sector agencies coming together after the forum. The Group will begin developing a regional action plan towards the end of 2014.

The transfer of Housing Tasmania properties to community housing organisations through Better Housing Futures continued throughout the year, with Centacare Evolve Housing beginning to manage tenancies across Bridgewater, Gagebrook and Herdsman’s Cove in March. Centacare Evolve now joins Mission Australia Housing in delivering tenancy management under Better Housing Futures across the Southern region.

Amongst the broad sector changes, two housing and homelessness services, Anglicare Housing Connect Support and Colony 47 Housing Connect, have changed service delivery sites. Colony 47 has moved from their iconic ‘Mimosa’ site in North Hobart to Collins Street, in a move that has increased accessibility for clients. Anglicare has made a temporary move to their Watchorn Street premises whilst their new purpose built site in Glenorchy is being developed, due to open in 2015.

Our southern shelter accommodation providers have continued to operate at full capacity throughout the year while also adjusting to the Housing Connect reforms, including changes to the way case management is provided to shelter tenants through Housing Connect support services. Southern services, in particular our youth services and youth shelters, are looking forward to the upcoming Trinity Hill development that will provide independent and supported accommodation for up to 46 young people on low incomes, including 16 young people living with disability. The development has the potential to increase accommodation outcomes for our young clients, and help to support education and training outcomes through an onsite training facility.

Common Ground Tasmania has also strengthened its ties with Housing Connect through the development of a jointly supported allocation process. Common Ground celebrated their first birthday with a residents’ art exhibition and a celebration with tenants and other sector stakeholders. They are enjoying being at full capacity and delivering this much needed accommodation.

Another great accommodation development this year has been the refurbishment and launch of Queen’s Walk (formerly Stainforth Court). Housing Choices Tasmania has led the project, which has seen the renovation of 84 units. 95% of the complex is now tenanted, the beginnings of a vegetable garden and communal fruit trees have been established, and tenants have also taken to planting out their own cuttings in the common area. Housing Choices Tasmania have also settled an additional 20 families into their brand new homes this year through the NRAS program, and tenants in their Brisbane Street units are enjoying the close proximity to the city, recreational spaces and essential services. The energy efficient units are providing very low average power costs, and the complex has provided a stable tenancy mix with only 2 tenancy turnovers in the past year.

The Tenants’ Union saw the culmination of its consultation and lobbying work on the Residential Tenancy Amendment Act (2013) when the Act was passed by both houses of parliament. Work towards minimum standards will continue. The newly appointed Training and Development Officer has assisted with training in Cert. IV and Diploma of Social Housing units, and has produced online training materials to support sector understanding of the new elements of the Act.

Thank you to all Southern Members, and to the staff and fellow committee members of Shelter Tas. Southern members of Shelter Tas look forward to working with our Peak Body in the year ahead to improve outcomes for vulnerable Tasmanians and the housing and homelessness services that support them.

Michael Douglas,on behalf of Southern SMC members.



HA and CHPA Board Member’s Report

Council for Homeless Persons Australia (CHPA)Chpa advoCateS for social justice for families and single adults who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. It endeavours to do this through the development of policy and information exchange. Council members represent a large number of homelessness organisations throughout Australia. The Council itself is made up of members from each State and Territory and has 2 face-to-face meetings each year and teleconferences in-between. CHPA, along with NYCH (National Youth Coalition for Housing) and WESNET (Women’s Emergency Services Network) are part of Homelessness Australia. In 1999, CHPA became a sub-committee of Shelter Tasmania to ensure the retention of a Tasmanian voice and ongoing dialogue on homelessness issues.

CHPA had their first face-to-face meeting for 2014 on 14th & 15th April in Canberra. As well as providing a valuable platform to discuss key issues across the country, it was also an opportunity to discuss policy issues with Homelessness Australia staff. States andTerritories continue to wrestle with large scale reforms and restructures, so it was interesting to hear where each are up to in these processes. Tasmania has been lucky in many ways, avoiding the re-tendering of homelessness services and making for a much smoother transition to Housing Connect.

A key focus of the April meetings was planning of the National Homelessness Conference, pre-conference workshop. CHPA partnered with Mental Health Australia to discuss best practice responses for people with a mental illness who are homeless. The workshop also included a national policy overview and panel discussion with a range of service providers and service users.

Homelessness AustraliahomeleSSneSS auStralia (HA) is the national Peak Body whose vision is to create a framework for ending homelessness in Australia. HA was formed in late 1998 as the Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisations (AFHO), bringing together 3 councils (CHPA, NYCH & WESNET).

HA works to promote national policy and action to reduce homelessness and its impact on the diverse range of people it affects. HA works collaboratively with homeless people’s associations, homelessness assistance services, State homelessness peak bodies, national peak organisations from other sectors, governments, business and the broader community to achieve HA’s objectives.

This past year has seen Homelessness Australia: • contribute to national policy through discussion and

policy papers• provide various sector briefings• attend relevant forums and meetings• undertake a variety of advocacy work• collaborate with other national peaks and campaigns• co-ordinate National Homeless Person’s Week.

A big thank you to all my CHPA and HA colleagues for another very productive year. I’m very grateful to work with such an inspiring group of people, as are the HA staff and HA/CHPA Board members. A special mention to Liz Fritz and Jenny Smith from CHPA for their continued support and the enormous amount of work they seem capable of undertaking off the sides of their desk.

Belinda JonesCouncil for Homeless Persons Australia Board Member,Homelessness Australia Board Member.


2013/14 WaS a landmark year for National Shelter, being the first year since 1996 where we had a senior employee rather than being project funded. Whilst our current contract maintains a project per year, it also allows us to have an employee available and dedicated to peak functions and growing the National Peak.

Learning to work with the new Government has been the primary focus of the year and we have established regular meetings with the Minister’s office, staff in DSS, and begun to establish relationships across Government departments which affect housing. This includes Treasury, Indigenous Affairs, DSS and may extend further, depending on how housing shapes as a priority for the Abbott Government.

Housing has been identified as an issue through the Commission of Audit, the Federalism process, and Minister Andrews has also announced a housing and homelessness review. In addition, NRAS is now the subject of a review after round 5 was suspended, and the Senate has been conducting an inquiry into affordable housing. National Shelter has made substantial submissions to these and other inquiries.

It is the responsibility of Peak Bodies to work in good faith with governments of all persuasions, representing the issues as we see them and as represented to us by our membership. That doesn’t change with changes of government. We remain focused on our mission, whilst looking to our contract and the projects which form part of that.

Our first project, now complete and waiting approval for general release, has been to examine ways to improve the workforce participation of young people in social housing. This has meant looking at policies and settings which work against young people engaging with the workforce, as well as examining programs and projects which are designed to assist young people in their search for social and economic participation. I’d like to thank both Sally James from the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Lance Wilson from Jobs Australia, for the contribution they made to this project as members of the reference group.

We have also completed and posted project reports on the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) and the role of title and asset transfer in stock transfer processes. These are now available on the National Shelter website.

The NAHA report found a number of ways of improving any future NAHA and has formed the basis for some rethinking about the task ahead in affordable housing. The stock transfer report was commissioned from Sphere Consulting in NSW and examines the level of asset and title required to provide leverage to community housing providers sufficient to ensure growth of affordable housing.

We have also applied for some new funding from DSS, which would enable National Shelter to engage additional policy staff whilst remaining in the very lean operational form we have adopted. We are also looking at ways of expanding our work with private sector partners and other parts of the NGO sector, and are also contributing to the work of others through ACOSS and other national organisations.

We welcome Kate Cowmeadow in a very part time capacity working on policy and communications and look forward to more media engagement over the next 9 months. Hopefully we can continue to find ways of expanding our resource base and the number of roles we are able to fulfil.

It has also been an exciting year at the State level, with some significant changes; notably the continuation of Queensland Shelter in a different role with a new team and the success of WA Shelter in securing the contract to be the single Peak for housing in WA. My congratulations to both, and we welcome John Lysaught at Queensland Shelter. Leigh Watson, who did a fantastic job at ACT Shelter in some difficult times, has moved on and will be missed. Otherwise the Shelter team at State level remains the stable and wonderfully experienced and consistent team that I enjoy working with.

In closing, I would like to express my personal thanks to the National Shelter Executive and members of the National Council for the fantastic support they have provided, and particularly to our Chairperson, Adam Farrar, who has always been available and provided me with the benefit of his considerable expertise and experience, as well as leading our reference group on the young people and workforce project.

National Shelter is a unique organisation which approaches its 40th anniversary in 2016, and I hope by that point we are stronger and more sustainable, to ensure at least an additional 40 years of operation.

Adrian PisarskiCEO, National Shelter.

National Shelter Report


in 2013-14, Shelter taS focussed on (1) contributing to effective government, business and community sector responses to the housing needs of all Tasmanians, especially those on lower incomes and those at risk of or experiencing homelessness; (2) using strategic communication, sector leadership and partnerships to contribute to a well-informed housing and homelessness sector and to build community awareness of homelessness and housing challenges faced by Tasmanians; and (3) achieving these objectives through best practice in our organisational governance and management.

Best Practice, Partnership and LeadershipAs Tasmania’s peak body for housing and homelessness, Shelter Tas plays a key role in supporting housing and homelessness service providers: • Shelter Tas’ expertise and leadership is recognised

in our role on the steering committee for Housing Tasmania’s Affordable Housing Strategy. Shelter Tas Executive and members participate in the Strategy’s working groups.

• Shelter is represented on the Joined Up Service System Tasmania (JUSST) Working Group by members of Shelter Tas Executive.

• Shelter Tas supports the implementation of Better Housing Futures through regular engagement with community housing providers and Housing Tas, and facilitating opportunities to share information and best practice.

• Shelter Tas contributes to the implementation and ongoing improvement of Housing Connect services by hosting regular feedback meetings and supporting our members’ training and professional development.

• Shelter Tas has been closely involved with research and policy development for housing and the NDIS, engaging with national and state colleagues at workshops and forums, and contributing to the Community Housing Federation of Australia Housing, Disability, and the NDIS forum and communiqué.

• Shelter Tas works consistently on national reform, with organisations including National Shelter, Homelessness Australia, Council to Homeless Persons, and Community Housing Federation of Australia where we provide a Tasmanian voice in national advocacy and policy development.

Major activities this year include: • Completing the Workforce Development Strategy for

Specialist Homelessness Services, a comprehensive plan for building capacity for future growth and responding to emerging needs in Tasmania.

• Organising and hosting a major conference: Tasmanian Community Housing: Trends, Tenants,

Transfers.• Undertaking the Consumer Engagement Project in

partnership with the University of Tasmania, funded by Housing Tas. The project identifies ways for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to have input into the policies and practices that affect them, and will be completed in 2015.

• Spearheading the Tasmanian campaign for funding certainty under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness: writing to state and federal politicians to advocate for resources to maintain support services and reduce homelessness; partnering with Homelessness Australia to distribute and share information.

• Collaborating with Tenants’ Union of Tasmania as key stakeholders for the new Residential Tenancy Act, including lobbying for minimum standards.

Shelter Tas works extensively with government partners and supports best practice in the community sector by participating in the Steering Committee for the Tasmanian Affordable Housing Strategy; Peaks Network ; Red Tape Reduction Working Group; Community Housing Capacity Building Reference Group; Partners in Recovery Reference Group; Community Sector Workforce Roundtable; National and State Policy Officers and Communications Officers Networks.

Shelter Tas’ expertise on housing and homelessness strengthened campaigning on community issues for the 2014 State Election with TasCOSS and other Peaks. Shelter Tas produced fact sheets on 8 key issues including the public housing debt, homelessness services, community housing, public housing, National Rental Affordability Scheme, private rental assistance, home ownership and the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness. Shelter Tas’ policy activity includes partnering with Housing Tas and the NSW Housing Federation to deliver accredited training to the housing and homelessness sector; submission to Low Carbon Issues Paper; submission to Working with Vulnerable People (background checks) Bill; submission to Budget Process 2014-15; discussion paper on Bail Options for Young People; and working group on Housing Tas’ ‘Three Strikes’ policy.

Community partnership highlights this year include submitting, with the Council On The Ageing, a joint application to DSS seeking to investigate housing needs for older Tasmanian renters; working with the Mental Health Council of Tasmania and Advocacy Tasmania to identify Long Term Supported Housing solutions for people with psychosocial disability including a draft discussion paper, followed by a Statewide forum in September 2014; chairing the Tasmanian Youth Housing and Homelessness Group with partner YNOT; and advocating with TasCOSS for a State policy on planning for affordable housing.

Shelter Tas Report on Activities


Ensuring a Well Informed Housing and Homelessness SectorShelter Tas completed our Workforce Development Strategy for Specialist Homelessness Services, submitted to Housing Tas in August 2014. This project was undertaken in partnership with Housing Tas, to ensure that there is a resilient, skilled and knowledgeable workforce, able to meet current and emerging challenges. Thanks to the service providers and workers who provided input about their training needs and shared their perspectives about workforce development. We hope to implement the Strategy soon.

‘Tasmanian Community Housing: Trends, Tenants, Transfers’, Shelter Tas’ Statewide conference in November 2013, brought together over 130 people (tenants, housing providers, and national and state experts) to discuss and promote best practice of stock transfer in Community Housing. This is the second in the series to support the capacity of the Community Housing sector in Tasmania. Participant feedback showed that tenant perspectives were a highlight of the forum. The informative presentations can be downloaded from the Shelter Tas website www.sheltertas.org.au.

Specialist Homelessness Services Forums continued (May 2013, August 2013, October 2013, February 2014, May 2014, July 2014, October 2014). SHS forums were held in the North and South, with an annual Statewide forum held in December (2013, 2014). Managed collaboratively through Shelter Tas’ partnership with Housing Tas, SHS forums provide opportunities for information exchange between services, sector updates from Housing Tas and Shelter Tas, and guest speakers on current and emerging issues.

Shelter Tas continues to organise meetings of TYHHG, the Tasmanian Youth Housing and Homelessness Group (August 2013, October 2013, February 2014, November 2014) in partnership with Youth Network of Tasmania (YNOT). Shelter established TYHHG in response to member concerns about unmet needs of Tasmanians aged under 17 who experience homelessness. The collaborative group lobbies for much needed resources and shares information to ensure young people receive the best possible support. This year, TYHHG wrote to all Members of Parliament alerting them to the lack of accommodation options, wrote to Hobart City Council in support of the Trinity Hill development and advocated for a youth facility in the North West and continues to work with Children and Youth Services to develop protocols around under 17 protocols and bail conditions.

In October 2014, Shelter Tas organised an information sharing session for community housing providers and will continue to support best practice for community housing in 2015. Our first priority is producing an information template for social housing providers.

Shelter Tas’ key communication tool is our regular eNews, reaching over 300 subscribers from an increasingly diverse range of organisations and interested individuals through over 40 editions distributed in the last financial year. The eNews and updates allow us to share information gained

through national networks, such as AHURI, National Shelter, Community Housing Federation of Australia, Homelessness Australia and Council to Homeless Persons; as well as news from local services and associated organisations and training and information directly from Shelter Tas. All responses to our member survey rated our email updates as highly valuable.

Shelter Tas introduced our new logo this year. The new image aligns us with Shelter WA, providing greater recognition within and beyond the sector. Shelter Tas’ presence on Facebook and Twitter is continuing to build and our new website will maximise the integration of our web presence with social media capability. Media releases this year have covered a range of topics, including Shelter Tas’ response to the State Budget, highlighting the potential closure of supported accommodation facilities due to the expiry of NPAH funding and Shelter Tas’ welcome of the growth of community housing in Tasmania through Better Housing Futures.

Building Sector Capacity and EngagementThis year Shelter Tas again facilitated training for Cert. IV and Diploma in Social Housing. Congratulations to all who have graduated, and those who are on track for completion. In addition, Shelter Tas successfully applied to Skills Tasmania to fund stand-alone one day training units in response to sector-identified needs in human resources and housing/homelessness topics.

Shelter Tas has long recognised the importance of the consumer voice in homelessness and housing issues, and has consistently lobbied for a program to support and facilitate consumer involvement in the policies and practices that affect them. We were delighted to commence our Consumer Engagement Project in 2014, the first of its kind in Tasmania, funded by Housing Tas. Thanks to the Reference Group, SHS participants, Dr Anne Coleman and UTas partnership, and most of all to the consumers themselves who generously provided their experience and expertise. Stay tuned for the launch of the report in 2015.

Strategic ManagementA 2 day planning session in July 2014 reviewed Shelter Tas’ priorities and reaffirmed our unique role in representing the housing and homelessness sector, as we liaise with members, services, affiliated organisations and State and National governments. As an independent peak body Shelter Tas is able to provide government with our expertise and knowledge of the implications of changes to policy and practice as we work in partnership to achieve our shared goals of affordable, appropriate, safe and secure housing for all and an end to homelessness.

Shelter Tas’ Management Committee (SMC) has undertaken to review and update our Constitution. Experts from our Management Committee have formed Shelter Tas’ Quality Assurance Policies and Procedures committee (QAPP). With approval from SMC the majority of our policies and procedures have been entered into


the Standards and Performance Pathways portal, and this process will be completed in 2015.

As DHHS and Housing Tasmania implement an Outcomes Purchasing Framework, Shelter Tas, along with our sector and peaks colleagues, will move towards outcomes-based reporting in future funding agreements. In preparation to work alongside our members in this new approach, Shelter Tas attended workshops organised by Housing Tasmania, the Peaks Network and TasCOSS, ensuring we are well informed as a Peak body and well positioned to support the housing and homelessness sector.

Looking Forward In the coming year Shelter Tas will continue to consult and inform our members, and represent their perspectives through policy development and advocacy, including lobbying for improved funding and certainty about funding from national programs such as NPAH. Our leadership role on the Steering Group for the Housing Tas Affordable Housing Strategy and work on the Joined Up Service System for Tasmania will continue. Our Budget Submission and an update of the State of Affordable Housing Report will be priorities. We will build our social media presence and consider hosting a social work student intern as a new initiative. Our collaborations with Housing Tas, Children and Youth Services, YNOT, COTA, MHCT, Advocacy Tas, TasCOSS and other Peaks will continue, as we contribute to leadership, resilience and increasing capacity in the community sector. We continue to provide input into to the Residential Tenancy Act, ‘Three Strikes’ policy, and protocols for under 17s. We will continue to support the implementation of Better Housing Futures through maintaining networks and information sharing with community housing providers.

From surveying our members in July 2014 we learned that the activities they value from Shelter Tas include networking, providing information via the website and eNews, lobbying and advocacy. Housing affordability, homelessness and housing supply are key issues, and members also emphasised the importance of specific groups, such as youth and those with complex needs. Accessibility of support and funding security for services were clear priorities for members. Shelter Tas has been inspired to improve information flow and to maintain (and be seen to maintain) our independent voice. We thank members for their positive and instructive responses. Suggestions about Shelter Tas’ work are always welcome.

ThanksThanks to Pauline Marsh, who held the role as Shelter Tas Policy Officer until March 2014. Pauline’s contributions to Shelter Tas’ work this year are very much appreciated. Shelter Tas is fortunate that Therese Bromfield has returned on a casual basis, providing invaluable advice, training and assistance with the design of official Shelter Tas documents. Thanks also to all the members of the

Management Committee who provided extra support during Pattie’s well deserved Long Service Leave. A special mention to Shelter Executive - Jed, John, Belinda and Andy - for the visits, support and encouragement of staff while Pattie was away.

Cynthia Townley and Meg Williams,on behalf of the Shelter team.


looking baCk over the laSt year, this is a great opportunity to reflect on our many achievements. This has taken place in the context of a rapidly changing political landscape, with new Federal and State Liberal Governments and a range of proposed changes (many yet to be clarified on how they will play out) on how to improve the housing outcomes fairly for people on low incomes in our community. In the meantime, just to keep us all busy Housing Connect was launched and the second stage of Better Housing Futures was implemented. Tasmania has made a great leap forward with these two reforms to housing and homelessness response, and is now leading the way nationally in community housing stock transfer and collaborative service delivery. The development of the Tasmanian Affordable Housing Strategy gives us another opportunity to continue that lead, and Shelter Tas is pleased to be part of its development and we look forward to the implementation stage.

We certainly have new challenges ahead. As I am writing this we once again face funding uncertainly for the National Partnership Agreement on Homeless post June 2015, and the future of the National Affordable Housing Agreement. We await the development of a White Paper on Federalism, as housing will be one of the four central issues covered. We still have a chronic housing shortage for people on low incomes across the State, so there is still much work for us to do.

Within the changing environment the importance of the 4 pillars of housing – affordable, appropriate, safe and secure - for all Tasmanians remains the number one priority for Shelter Tas. We know that when gaining access to shelter, a roof over your head is not enough in itself. Living in housing of poor quality or in locations with limited or no public transport, away from employment opportunities or school, will not provide the housing and life outcomes that governments and members of our community all aim to achieve.

This is a clear message that needs to be reinforced as we work in challenging times of reform within constrained budgets and rising costs.

Our Plan During 2013-14 Shelter Tas continued to implement its Strategic Plan, which is underpinned by our vision and mission statement.

For our strategic planning this year the Shelter Management Committee (SMC) tackled the important issues of how do we (a) improve housing outcomes for people on low and moderate incomes, and (b) reduce homelessness? As experienced practitioners and experts in the area, Shelter Tas approaches housing from a broad perspective that takes into account the wider social, economic and political context. This is reinforced by our diverse membership and partnerships. As the Peak Body

for both housing and homelessness, we are committed to integrating affordable and appropriate housing with the right support.

For outcomes to improve we need to ensure that the housing and support planned for, and provided, into the future improves wellbeing, and fosters engagement and participation in our community. Therefore, it must be of a decent quality, well located in places where people thrive, must be affordable and safe, and appropriate to disability, ageing or young and cultural needs.

Some HighlightsThe staff report on activities and the regional reports outline the breadth and depth of work that Shelter Tas has achieved over the past year. It also highlights the importance of partnership of all kinds. I would just like to briefly mention our:

• Very successful community housing conference on stock transfer, ‘Tasmanian Community Housing: Trends, Tenants, Transfers’ which was sold-out

• Effective campaign to save the NPAH • Comprehensive State Budget Submission • State election campaign and fact sheets • Work on the amendments of the Residential Tenancy

Act, including the regulations and minimum standards

• Workforce Development Plan for the homelessness sector which will lay down the plan for the SHS sector in Tasmania to respond to their emerging needs and to build capacity for future growth

• Consumer Engagement Strategy for individuals experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, homelessness and social exclusion

• Successfully applying for funds to provide training for

Executive Officer’s Report


the sector for Cert. IV and Diplomas in Social Housing• Communication, with our informative popular eNews

and an increasing social media presence• Successfully working together, as the Tasmanian

Youth Housing and Homelessness Group (TYHHG), to improve outcomes for young people under 17 at risk of, or experiencing homelessness

• Our national policy work and campaign in collaboration with our National Peak Bodies.

I Must Conclude with a Big Thankyou!Our success is based on sharing and collaboration with a diverse and committed range of services and individuals. We have achieved a lot with all those meetings! I would like to thank you all.

The amazing Shelter Tas executive: our Chair Andy Witt, Vice Chair Belinda Jones, Secretary Jed Donohue, Treasurer John Stubley, and Jenny Bertram as our Public Officer for their commitment, mentoring and leadership skills. Also, the rest of the Shelter Management Committee who have provided the insight and direction for Shelter Tas’ work and strong governance over the past year. Thank you all for your commitment and support to all the staff!

Then there is the fantastic Shelter team itself. The work of Shelter Tas is very much achieved by its staff’s energy, ideas and commitment. I would like to thank our new policy officer, Cynthia Townley, who has been a great asset; the previous policy officer, Pauline Marsh; Meg Williams for her communication and editing skills; Trudy Kuilenburg and Mick Lynch for keeping the finances in order; and Nat Lo for all her work.

I also acknowledge and thank Minister, Jackie Petrusma and her advisor, Simon Duffy, our previous Minister, Cassy O’Connor and the Shadow Minister for Housing, Rebecca White and her advisor Dan Goss for their ongoing

support of Shelter Tas. Also, the Deputy Secretary, Mercia Bresnehan and the Director of Housing Tasmania, Peter White, whose support and open approach is much appreciated. Thanks also go to the many Housing Tasmania staff we meet with and collaborate with on a regular basis, including Tim Denby, Richard Gilmour, Jessemy Stone, Lynden Pennicott and their teams. We look forward to continuing working with you all in the year ahead.

Pattie ChuggExecutive Officer.


Community Housing Federation of Australia ReportShelter taSmania is the State Peak Body for community housing in Tasmania and the State member of CHFA, the National Peak Body for Community Housing. Shelter Tas has a growing range of community housing members and works closely with CHFA on key national issues. Shelter Tas is a member of the Community Housing Peaks Network, which reports on issues impacting on the Community Housing Sector.

Community Housing In TasmaniaCommunity housing continued to grow in Tasmania during 2013/14, with the roll-out of the Better Housing Futures (BHF) model by Housing Tasmania. Four large community housing providers now manage 4,000 State-owned properties. The BHF model stresses the need for providers to undertake outstanding property maintenance, engage with tenants to identify community development opportunities and assist with promoting community harmony. This is a new phase for the community housing sector, with the stock transfer model currently being endorsed by other States. CHFA is well positioned to assist providers in this context of growth, ensuring issues relating to sector capacity and current or future State/Commonwealth policy framework is discussed, circulated and understood.

Key Activities • Conducted training, in conjunction with the NSW Federation of Housing Associations (NSWFHA) in most States,

including Tasmania, to build the capacity and readiness of community housing organisations to participate in the National Regulation System for Community Housing.

• Housing and Disability forum held in Canberra in March.• Submission to the Senate Inquiry into Affordable Housing.• Research paper on allocation, eligiblity, and rent setting for community housing across the country, which Shelter

Tas and members participated in.• A report by the Community Housing Peaks Network on CRA and its impact on community housing providers and

their rental income.• An issues paper on housing for people with disability and research with community housing providers about this

issue, resulting in the report ‘Housing Critical for Australia’s Disabled’, which shows that community not-for-profit housing providers across the country are ready to take up the challenge to build and manage more housing for people with disability.

• A submission into ‘A New System for Better Employment and Social Outcomes: Interim Report of the Reference Group on Welfare Reform to the Minister for Social Services’.

• Development of a new page on the CHFA website devoted to accessible housing.

National Industry Body DevelopmentCHFA has been working with its members on the development of a new National Industry Body (NIB). Work has progressed well this year under the NIB working group, with a view to making constitutional changes to establish the NIB in 2015. The new body will subsume the current National and State Peaks. Consideration of such a development was prompted by the significant reforms currently facing the sector. Shelter Tas will continue to consult with members on the NIB in 2015 on how this can be best implemented in Tasmania.For more about community housing in Tasmania, see the community housing page at: www.sheltertas.org.au.

CHFA DelegatesLisa Roberts, Jed Donoghue and Pattie Chugg.



total grant fundS received from the Department of Health and Human Services for the year ended 30th June 2014 were $287,890. This is the same level of funding as the previous year, increased for CPI and Equal Remuneration Order wage increases.

The revenue received from memberships for the year was $11,099, an increase of $190 or 1.7% from the previous year. The surplus for the year from ordinary activities was $9,356.

Shelter Tas had total equity of $37,546 at the commencement of the year, and $46,902 at the end of the year. This is an increase in equity of $9,356, in line with the surplus for the year. This reflects an increase in equity of 24.9%.

Cash and Receivables increased by $144,268 from $187,664 to $331,932, or 76.9%. This is largely represented by grant funds received in advance and on hand at the end of the financial year ($164,077). These funds are committed to be spent during the financial year ended 30th June 2015.

The financial statements were audited by Michael Muller, Chartered Accountant, for the year ended 30th June 2014, and I would like to recommend that he be engaged to undertake the audit for the subsequent financial year, being the year ended 30th June 2015.

A copy of the Independent Auditor’s Report to members is attached to the Annual Report, as well as being available to Management Committee members on line.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Pattie,

Trudy and Mick for the excellent way they continue to maintain the financial records on behalf of Shelter Tas and to manage the budget within the financial limitations of our ongoing funding.

As Treasurer for Shelter Tas, I would like to thank all the Management Committee members for their continued support and assistance, in particular Andy, our Chairperson and our Statewide Vice Chair Belinda.

To Pattie, our Executive Officer, thank you too for your dedicated approach and enthusiasm for all Shelter Tas work.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Executive Director of Housing Tasmania, Peter White, for his continued support of Shelter Tasmania.

John A. StubleyTreasurer.

Treasurer’s Report













ANNUAL REPORT 2014 - Shelter Tasmania · ANNUAL REPORT 2014 GPO Box 848 Hobart Tasmania 7001 P: 03 6224 5488 I M: 0419 536 100 I E: [email protected] Housing and Homelessness Peak

Documents