Deliver the Rapid Rehousing Program for people experiencing family violence
Responsible government
- Tasmania
Fourth Action Plan actions
- Improve support and service system responses
- 20 Improve access to suitable and safe accommodation within their communities for women who have experienced domestic, family and sexual violence.
What are we doing?
The Rapid Rehousing Program provides 50 supported housing options for families affected by family violence, allowing them to access safe and affordable rental homes. Perpetrators can access the program to enable victim-survivors to remain in their own homes when it is safe to do so.
- Deliver Rapid Rehousing Program for people experiencing family violence is an action under Safe Homes, Families, Communities: Tasmania’s action plan for family and sexual violence 2019-2022 (Safe Homes, Families, Communities), which invests $26 million over three years from 2019-20 to 2021-22 to prevent and respond to family and sexual violence in Tasmania.
What have we achieved so far?
Safe Homes, Families, Communities actions commenced implementation on 1 July 2019. The Rapid Rehousing Program provides transitional accommodation (leases up to 12 months) through private rental properties, with the option of those property owners renewing their Head Leases with our Community Housing Providers who can then assist further households.
In March 2020, the Tasmanian Government announced funding for additional Rapid Rehousing properties for 12 months as part of the $2.7 million family violence package in response to COVID-19.
The Department of Communities Tasmania worked with Housing Connect providers to further assess and better support those on the Rapid Rehousing (Family Violence) waitlist, including applications for Flexible Support Packages where appropriate. Flexible Support Packages (FSPs) was a program established under the Tasmanian Government’s Social and Economic Support package in response to COVID-19. FSPs provide practical support to people experiencing family violence by providing up to $6,000 to: purchase basic items (food and clothing); pay some bills (utilities or phone); cover medical or pharmaceutical costs not covered by Medicare or the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; relocation cost; furnishings and whitegoods to support stability and safety at home.
What is next?
- Ongoing delivery of service
Rapid Rehousing is now a mature program that continues to provide safe, secure and affordable accommodation for people affected by family violence.
What difference will we make?
The Tasmanian Government is committed to supporting families affected by violence and ensuring the service system is responsive, integrated and innovative. Through this initiative, additional housing options are available for families escaping family violence to assist them to be safe with support provided when required, and people affected by family violence are assisted to access and remain in stable accommodation.