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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 progress Common Ground in Tasmania.

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.

The Common Ground model has been operating in the United States since 1990 and is now operating in South Australia and been committed to in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Common Ground Tasmania has established strong links with the Common Ground projects and works closely with the national network, the Australian Common Ground Alliance (ACGA), to deliver results in Tasmania.

Common Ground founder Roseanne Haggerty visited Tasmania in May 2008 and her report to the Tasmanian Government, Ending Homelessness in Tasmania, said Tasmania’s spirit of mutual concern, neighbourliness and belief in the need for a stable home would provide the basis for a successful whole-of-community response to homelessness.