BULLETINS

Bulletin April 2022

LINK

CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

It’s not that hard to do a great deal more than Launceston’s TOWN HALL. All you have to do is do SOMEthing and you are well and truly ahead of the game straight away – no ifs no buts! ........ The City of Launceston’s TOWN HALL has developed obfuscation and bureaucratic DUCKshoving into artforms and at the elite level if are an advocate of their methodology. Contact A Councillor, if they’ll take your call, and get them to explain their position on ANYTHING and see how far it gets you! That is your elected representatives!

With homelessness on the rise, calls to address it are becoming louder. Noticing a growing number of people doing it tough, The Green Bean Café owner Paul Giddins opened his doors on Wednesday nights, offering hot meals, warmth and connection. ............. "It wasn't just the homeless, it was the families that couldn't afford to pay the electricity bill or put food on the table," he said. ............. "If they walked out that door with a smile on their face, we'd done our job." ............. READ MORE: Tasmania's homelessness crisis seems to only be getting worse ............. Mr Giddins stopped operating from his café in December due to building complaints, instead taking to the streets, bringing meals to people in need. He said homelessness was only worsening. ............. With raised food and fuel costs, alongside climbing rental prices and low vacancy rates, more Tasmanians are struggling. ............. In a bid to ease living costs, the latest Federal Budget announced a $250 one-off payment and a one-off $420 tax offset. It also halved the fuel excise, cutting 22 cents a litre off petrol. ............. Launceston Benevolent Society chief executive Rodney Spinks said governments, councils and welfare agencies needed to come together and find an immediate solution to growing homelessness. "They can't just keep being moved around," he said. ............. Greens Senator Peter Whish-Wilson recommended an Inquiry into the state of homelessness in Tasmania. "With so many people in need of affordable housing we need sweeping changes to the way we think about social and community housing," he said. ............. Mr Whish-Wilson said the Commonwealth had an important role to play in increasing public housing. "The Commonwealth government should provide low or zero interest finance to the states to kick off a massive wave of construction for public housing, a lack of funds is holding us back." ............. State Labor housing spokesperson Ella Haddad did not believe an Inquiry was necessary. "There doesn't need to be a report or an investigation. People know the reality and how bad it is, and they know the solutions. They just need to be delivering faster," she said. ............. Homeless Tasmanians 'can't just keep being moved around' F.............ederal Housing and Homelessness Minister Michael Sukkar said the Federal Government had waived Tasmania's historic public housing debt of $230 million. ............. He said it was under the condition that the state government redirect scheduled repayments to programmes that increased access to social housing, reduced homelessness, and improves housing supply across Tasmania. ............. City of Launceston chief executive Michael Stretton said addressing homelessness was complex. "While local government has a role to play, the expertise, resourcing and capacity to tackle this challenge often rests with service providers, assistance organisations, police and other tiers of government," he said.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE IMAGE TO ENLARGE

OPINION: ... If 4.6 millions of dollars have been spent on Launceston magnolia shelter how come there is a current wait of 3 months to seek assistance and a waiting list of more than 30 women? ... What cost 4.6 million? ......... How many extra rooms / beds were built? 

Where are the extra 103 beds for the homeless? 

 $16.8 million invested in the Safe spaces on top of the initial 4.8 million a grand total of $21.10 million dollars for a program that is not working, is not a safe space for many, stretcher beds setup in a row, I have heard so many complaints from many people who are homeless massive Health and Safety issues. 

This has only been a cash grab for two major organisations. Invest of $21.10 million for a 2.5 yr contract and no assets to show at the end of the program. 

Only added trauma to those who did not feel safe and thought what they were going to have was a safe space to sleep. Yes it has paid the wages for people to operate the Safe space program unsure of how many people have been employed for this program? 

 2.8 million each organisation for a 12 month period that is a huge amount of $? 

Strike It Out Inc receives $0 and going to offer 9 SAFE SPACES where no one will try and steal your shoes off your feet while sleeping. 

If Strike It Out Inc received 2.8 million dollars we could go out and purchase an asset (hotel or similar) Operate it and still have a surplus 🤣 and have an asset to continue for many years to come. ... Kirsten Ritchie ... strikeitout@outlook.com