Shelter Tasmania

29/07/2026

Homelessness Week is a national event held each year in the first week of August, and it starts on Monday!

Being in the depths of Tasmania’s winter, Homelessness Week highlights the importance of having a secure, safe and warm home to go to. It also aims to raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness, the issues they face and what is needed to end homelessness.

As the peak body for housing and homelessness in Tasmania, each year Shelter Tas coordinates the week. We have compiled all the major events from right around the State, which includes a coordinated project between a range of organisations to 'Light Up Tasmania for Homelessness Week' - where public buildings and landmarks are illuminated in purple to raise awareness of the impacts of homelessness, and to advocate for solutions to end it.

You can view all the details on the Shelter Tas website and events calendar, make sure you come along to one (or many!) and get involved - www.sheltertas.org.au/homelessness-week-2026/

Homelessness Australia National Shelter Kerry Vincent Homes Tasmania City of Hobart City of Launceston Official

03/07/2026

Shelter Tas is again coordinating the Tasmanian sponsored delegate opportunity for the 2026 Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) Homelessness Conference in Darwin from 7–8 October 2026.

Sponsored delegate places are available for people with lived experience of homelessness who are engaged in contributing their lived experience perspective within the homelessness sector - providing an opportunity to participate in important conversations.

Sponsored delegates receive free registration, and travel and accommodation costs to attend the conference.

If you or one of your tenants/clients is interested in attending, please contact Shelter Tas ASAP. Application forms must be completed to be considered for the delegate position, and these must be submitted no later than 7 August 2026. To obtain application information, please email [email protected]

For more info: https://www.aushomelessconf.org.au/about/lived-experience

Photo: From the 2025 AHURI conference in Perth - Stephen Hill, Kim Bomford, Lauren McGrow, Will Foran (Tas consumer rep), Pattie Chugg.

05/06/2026

Across Tasmania and nationally, too many people are struggling to afford a safe and secure rental home - the scale of Australia's housing crisis demands urgent action.

Shelter Tas fully supports the proposed reforms to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, and has joined National Shelter by lodging a submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Economics in support of these important legislative changes.

Please join us by supporting the Everybody's Home Campaign in calling for a better housing system - https://everybodyshome.com.au/take-action/contact-the-crossbench/

A new Senate inquiry report shows the capital gains tax discount is making Australia’s housing crisis worse.

Reform can no longer wait, and there will never be a better moment.

The government has the evidence, the numbers, and public support to act. Inaction will make homes even harder to afford and widen the gap between the rich and everyone else.

We need the government to be bold - scrap investor tax breaks and use the billions in savings to build social housing.

📅 The May Budget is coming and decisions are being made. Take action now - it takes 2 mins!

Email the Treasurer: https://everybodyshome.com.au/take-action/email-the-treasurer/
Email your MP: https://everybodyshome.com.au/take-action/email-your-mp/

26/05/2026

Do you have lived experience of homelessness or experience working in the homelessness sector? Here is a great employment opportunity and a chance to be involved with the upcoming 2026 Census – Australia on 11 August.

We’re looking for people with experience working in the homelessness sector or with lived experience with homelessness, to be a Community Field Officer.

You’ll assist diverse population groups including people experiencing homelessness to be counted in the Census.

Find out more and apply now at census.abs.gov.au/jobs

22/05/2026

“We welcome continued investment in social and affordable housing in today’s State Budget, with a commitment of $900m over four years. In such a tight fiscal position, it is essential that no housing and homelessness services are cut. We are relieved to see the Tasmanian Government identify the State’s dire housing situation as an area of high priority that cannot afford any reduction.” Shelter Tas CEO, Pattie Chugg.

Yesterday, Treasurer, the Hon Eric Abetz MP, handed down the 2026/27 Tasmanian Budget. While it was pleasing to see some of our member services receive additional funds, it is essential that there is sustained and targeted investment for the sector into the future.

🏡 Read Shelter Tas' full Budget response here:

13/05/2026

Thanks to National Shelter for the informative summary of relevant housing and reform announcements in last night's Federal Budget. You can read all the details here -

The Federal Government’s announced reforms to Capital Gains Tax and negative gearing represent the most significant shift in housing policy in a generation, helping to rebalance incentives toward new supply while maintaining stability for existing investors and first homebuyers. From 1 July 2027, ...

29/04/2026

Help this important campaign reach 1,000 signatures before the end of April!

Shelter Tas is part of the Coalition of Community Service Peaks campaign, urging the Government to deliver increased funding and long-term investment to protect the wellbeing of all Tasmanians.

Please show your support by signing an open letter to the Premier and Treasurer, and sharing with your networks and on social media. Every signature counts - please join us!

🔗https://tinyurl.com/5b62aar5

Coalition of Community Service Peaks calls on the Government to Prioritise all Tasmanians

28/04/2026

Don't forget to register for Hobart City Mission's Sleep Rough event, coming up soon on Friday 8th May.
Even if you're not joining in the challenge, you can still participate by fundraising, donating, or spreading the word on behalf of others sleeping out. Go to www.sleeprough.com.au to find out more.

✨ Sleep Rough 2026 registrations are officially open ✨
Now more than ever, it’s time to make a difference.
Homelessness in Tasmania is at a crisis point 🚨
Right now, 5,410 people are on the social housing waitlist.
Thats a 42% increase in just five years. Priority applicants are waiting more than 84 weeks. That’s 18 months in unsafe, temporary, or no housing at all.
At the same time, government funding for emergency relief has more than halved. Pushing Hobart City Mission to a critical point.
We urgently need our community.
✨ Sleep Rough 2026
📅 May 8th, 2026
This is Tasmania’s biggest community sleep out, and it’s open to everyone. Bring your friends, your family, your workplace. Everyone is welcome.
Join the fight against homelessness: Sleep Rough, so others don’t have to.
Sign up or donate now 👉 www.sleeprough.com.au
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Hobart City Mission
Caring for 174 years 💞
Don't forget to connect!
Stay in the loop with your Southern Tasmanian Community 🥰

15/04/2026

This Wednesday 15 April marks Youth Homelessness Matters Day.

On any given night in Tasmania, over 2,000 people experience homelessness, and young people are disproportionately affected. The last Census showed a devastating statistic: 25% of Tasmanians experiencing homelessness were aged between 12 and 24, with an additional 14% being children under 12 years old. As well as having to sleep rough, many young people must resort to couch surfing, moving between short‑term or overcrowded accommodation, or remaining in unsafe situations because there is nowhere else to go.

Led by Yfoundations, Youth Homelessness Matters Day is an opportunity to confront this reality at a national level, and to call for action. It is about recognising youth homelessness as a housing and systems issue - not an individual failure - and investing in early intervention and long‑term solutions.

This year, Yfoundations and Home Time are partnering to call on the Treasurer to introduce a targeted Youth Housing Supplement in the 2026-27 Federal Budget. This practical, cost‑effective measure would help close the gap between income support and the real cost of housing, ensuring young people aren’t locked out of safe accommodation.

You can lend your voice in calling on the Treasurer to act by visiting www.hometime.org.au/takeaction, or go to www.yfoundations.org.au/youthhomelessnessmatterseveryday to find out more about how you can support young people - because no one should be left without a safe place to call home.