2019 Homelessness Week Launch and Soapbox Billboard Exhibition

Published on 05 August 2019

The need for more affordable housing across all capital cities has been highlighted at today’s national launch of 2019 Homelessness Week.

Lord Mayor Councillor Anna Reynolds, who is the convenor of the Greater Hobart Homelessness Alliance, said that each year Homelessness Week sought to raise awareness of people experiencing homelessness, the issues they face, and the action needed to achieve enduring solutions.

“This year’s theme of ‘Housing Ends Homelessness’ aims to highlight the need for more affordable housing as the main solution to addressing homelessness,” she said.

“The City of Hobart has long recognised its role in supporting the organisations that work to tackle homelessness. This year we strengthened those partnerships and maximise opportunities to work more closely with the not-for-profit charities and the Tasmanian and Commonwealth governments.”

In July, as part of the 2019 Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayors’ Forum held in Brisbane, Lord Mayors of Australia’s capital cities met with Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services Luke Howarth. Lord Mayors provided him with an overview of homelessness in the capital cities and committed to a twelve-month action plan to address the issue.

For the launch, Councillor Anna Reynolds was joined by Assistant Minister for Community Housing, Homelessness and Community Services Luke Howarth; Jenny Smith, Chair of Homelessness Australia and CEO of Council to Homeless Persons; Pattie Chugg, CEO Shelter Tasmania, Danny Sutton, CEO Colony 47 and Kate Kelly, City of Hobart Housing with Dignity Reference Group.

“Earlier this year the City of Hobart established a Housing with Dignity Reference Group to offer an opportunity to people with a lived experience of homelessness to have a voice and a place to be heard,” Cr Reynolds said.

“This Group has the crucial role of supporting the Council in the review of its Housing and Homelessness strategy, being a vital reference point for Council decisions about homelessness, and identifying priorities to advocate and lobby state and federal governments.

“Over the past few years, we have developed some strong relationships and partnerships with the community sector and delivered a number of action and initiatives as part of the City’s Social Inclusion Strategy.”

The launch has also been a great opportunity for the community to learn more about essential services provided by Anglicare, CatholicCare, Salvation Army, Bethlehem House and Loui’s Van.

To coincide with the national launch of Homelessness Week, the City has presented a new Soapbox billboard featuring Hobartians Facing Homelessness – 50/50 Art Project.

The community-focused art project explores the issues around homelessness using art as a vehicle to connect diverse viewpoints and create collaboration with a result that can be shared, exhibited and foster discussion. The billboard artwork will be on display until 1 September 2019 at Mathers Place: in Criterion Lane, on the rear wall of the State Library and the side of the Playhouse Theatre.

Visit the Soapbox billboards webpage to learn more.

For more information on the events happening in Tasmania as part of Homelessness Week, visit the Shelter Tasmania website.