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Move to house vulnerable

VOLUNTEERS will roam the streets in the early hours of today and tomorrow to find Hobart's most vulnerable homeless people. Under the 50 Lives for 50 Homes project some of those worst off will be matched with an apartment and support run by Common Ground Tasmania, which is building affordable inner-Hobart housing.   Those sleeping rough will be surveyed by more than 70 volunteers as part of the project, run by Common Ground and the Salvation Army and...

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Harsh realities for homeless

NEARLY half the homeless people surveyed in Hobart this week were at high risk of death, and those interviewed had spent an average seven years living on the streets.   The release of survey results yesterday left some volunteers in tears.   More than 60 had interviewed people sleeping rough in the early hours of Monday and Tuesday.   One person had been homeless for 24 years, and one-third of those surveyed had been attacked since becoming homeless.   One-quarter had a history of foster care,...

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Parks searched for homeless

ABOUT 75 volunteers headed out into Hobart's streets and parks before dawn yesterday to begin a landmark survey into homelessness in Tasmania.   The Greater Hobart Homelessness survey is a first-time effort to identify and register the city's chronic homeless population.   The survey marks the beginning of Common Ground Tasmania and the Salvation Army's 50 Lives 50 Homes campaign, which aims to permanently house 50 of Hobart's most vulnerable homeless people.   Nearly 100 new accommodation places will become available...

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Needy are on the home straight

  VOLUNTEERS who walked the streets and parks of Hobart this week searching for the city's chronically homeless encountered some sceptical subjects. While 35 street sleepers completed the Greater Hobart Homelessness survey, a number of others declined.   Some who had been homeless for a long time were doubtful that anything would change as the result of them filling in another form.   However, for some of those surveyed, there is a real chance they will be permanently housed within the next...

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Opening arms to the homeless

In the dead of winter last year, after 13 years of wandering the streets and homeless shelters of Washington, Maureen Brosnahan was given a tiny apartment with no strings attached. She would no longer have to endure icy nights lying on cardboard and wrapped in blankets and plastic, or huddle with others for protection against the thieves and psychotics who prey on the homeless after dark. "You always think that something better is going to...

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Building hope for homeless

A NEW housing initiative, Common Ground Tasmania, could bring an end to chronic homelessness in the state. The first two Common Ground sites on Campbell St and Liverpool/Goulburn streets are expected to open early next year. Half the tenants will be Tasmanians who are homeless and the others low-wage tenants in need of affordable accommodation. Yesterday, the New York-based founder of Common Ground supportive housing, Rosanne Haggerty, returned to Hobart to support the establishment of Common Ground Tasmania. "I'm so impressed...

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Welcome to Common Ground Tasmania

Common Ground Tasmania (CGT) was established in 2008 to work in cooperation with State, Federal, Local government and the private sector to deliver supportive housing services to homeless people and more affordable housing for those in significant need.


A strong team of passionate, skilled and committed Tasmanians, led by Chairman Hank Petrusma, has been formed to establish the Common Ground model of supportive housing in Tasmania. Click to view Board. 


The Common Ground model creates a vibrant mixed community of formerly homeless people and low-income tenants by providing support services from the site and links back into the community with opportunities for employment, education, training and social networks. Tenants have their own apartments, enter into rental agreements and pay rent.


Common Ground developments have been established for over 30 years and work successfully in New York, London and Vancouver and now in Australia with two sites in Adelaide, one site in Melbourne and sites due to open in Sydney, Brisbane and Canberra in the near future.  Common Ground Tasmania has established strong links with the other Common Ground projects and works closely with the national network, the Australian Common Ground Alliance (ACGA), to deliver results in Tasmania.


Lessons have been learned since the first Common Ground site was opened.

 

In Tasmania, we now have the opportunity to adapt the successful elements of the national and international developments to what is appropriate for our State.

 

 

 

 

Common Ground Tasmania was registered in 2008. It has no connection, association or relationship with the environmental and political lobby group, Our Common Ground.