Homes Tasmania Act 2022 (Tas)

Homes Tasmania Act 2022

An Act to establish Homes Tasmania, to promote the development of affordable housing, to enable the provision of housing assistance to, and improve the housing conditions of, eligible persons, to support the provision of affordable housing, housing support services and community support services to persons who require such housing or services, to assist in the formation of policy in relation to housing, and for related purposes [Royal Assent 17 October 2022]

Be it enacted by Her Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:

PART 1 - Preliminary

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Homes Tasmania Act 2022 .

2. Commencement The provisions of this Act commence on a day or days to be proclaimed.

3. Purposes of Act The purposes of this Act are as follows: (a) to assist in reducing the incidence of housing stress and homelessness in Tasmania; (b) recognising that housing is a fundamental human right, increase the opportunities for eligible persons, and persons on low or moderate incomes, to live in safe, secure appropriate and affordable housing; (c) to – (i) enable the provision of housing assistance and housing support services; and (ii) facilitate the provision of community support services; (d) to encourage the development and implementation of short-term, medium-term and long term strategies to increase the opportunities for eligible persons, and persons on low or moderate incomes, to live in safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing; (e) to facilitate the ownership, leasehold, or occupation, of residential premises by eligible persons and persons on low or moderate incomes; (f) to encourage the development of flexible and innovative financial arrangements that facilitate the ownership, leasehold, or occupation, of residential premises by eligible persons and persons on low or moderate incomes; (g) to enable the strategic acquisition of land, and land and premises, primarily for the development of housing for, or the provision of housing to, eligible persons and persons on low or moderate incomes and to promote the planning of the development of such housing having regard to the desirability of ensuring integrated, liveable communities; (h) to promote an efficient and effective system of administration of housing services, housing support services and community support services; (i) to ensure the existence of viable, diverse and accessible – (i) services for the provision of housing assistance; and (ii) housing support services; and (iii) services related to homelessness; (j) to ensure appropriate transparency, scrutiny and direction of the performance and exercise of the functions and powers of Homes Tasmania.