February 21st, 2019

Back in July 2015, at a Mosaic Disability Services Family forum, A number of families talked about their concern for their grown up family members with disabilities and the lack of supported accommodation options available in Tasmania.
 
Bob Gordon asked the group the question “Why can’t we develop something to provide suitable housing to meet this need”. It was then that the concept was born.
 
In January 2016, John Lennon facilitated a workshop with a number of interested parties (see details attached) and this was followed up later in 2016 with Tim Rutherford donating his time and resources, on behalf of KPMG, preparing a detailed business case and financial model indicating how this concept could work.
 
Since then, the Trust has been formed with Roger Curtis undertaking the legal work and lots of input from many others including Mosaic Support Services (who also signed up to lease the first property) Robert Rockefeller, Royce Fairbrother, a number of support workers, families and people with disabilities and others to arrive at what we have today with the first 3 x 2 bedroom unit home along with staff support and shared areas currently under construction (with a vastly improved floorplan than the one in the original workshop). The Trust has 3 directors Bob Gordon, Sarah Merridew and Roger Curtis with Tim Lane the Company Secretary and myself as administration manager.
 
Apart from construction costs and some unavoidable fees, all of the people involved to date have given of their time and talents for no charge.
 
Today, The Federal Government has announced that they will fund the trust for $6M with all proceeds being reinvested for future affordable homes (see below). This is a fantastic result and will enable the Trust to build 9 x 3 bedroom unit with staff quarters in the Hobart region. This in turn will enable the Trust to leverage off these buildings to expand to other parts of the state and perhaps interstate – going a long way to supporting this great need in the community.
 
A big thank you to you all for your contribution towards this very worthwhile venture. 

Ralph Doedens
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22 February 2019
$30M HOUSING GAME-CHANGER FOR THE HOBART AREA
Independent MP Andrew Wilkie will join Senator Eric Abetz, as well as social housing providers, as the Federal Government announces a $30 million social housing package for the Hobart area.
WHEN: 10:15am TODAY 22 February
WHERE: 115 Allunga Road CHIGWELL (former Mt Faulkner Primary School site)
 
“I’m thrilled that the Federal Government has announced today that they will invest $30 million into social housing in the Hobart area,” Mr Wilkie said. “This is terrific news and will go a long way towards helping the thousands of Tasmanians without secure housing, especially among those who are most vulnerable such as people with a disability, the elderly and people fleeing domestic violence.”
“I’ve been lobbying the Federal Government for this housing package for some time and it’s great news that they have seen the merit and announced such a significant investment today.
“Hobart’s housing crisis has been front and centre in the minds of many Tasmanians over the last year and I’ve heard so many heartbreaking stories from people who are struggling to find secure housing. I’m glad that, thanks to this announcement, we’ll be able to help hundreds of these people.
“The funding will go to four organisations who have a track record of building and delivering affordable housing. It will allow them to build over 130 dwellings and put a big dent in the housing waiting list, helping hundreds of people overall.”
The housing package consists of:

• $8m for Housing Choices Tasmania to build 32 dwellings to house elderly people living with health and/or mobility issues, people living with a disability, women and children escaping domestic violence, and other priority applicants;
• $8m for Community Housing Limited to build 27 dwellings available to rent to low and very low-income earners;
• $8m for CatholicCare Tasmania to build 45 dwellings for housing priority applicants, on shovel-ready land in Claremont; and
• $6m for Supported Affordable Accommodation Trust to initially build 27 specially-designed dwellings for people living with a disability, and allow them to leverage against the property assets to build more dwellings in the future.

Authorised by Andrew Wilkie MP 188 Collins St Hobart

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