Vinnies’ walk event seeks action on Tasmania’s homelessness crisis

This Homelessness Week (4-10 August) the St Vincent de Paul Society is joining City Mission, The Salvation Army and Shelter Tasmania to mark the occasion with their annual walk for awareness in Launceston. But this time, the focus turns to a call for action.

The demand for homelessness services has grown exponentially and the St Vincent de Paul Society has witnessed this first-hand.

“In the past 12-months, the Society has helped 3,529 families and 19,182 individuals with our Emergency Relief service, and roughly one in ten of our clients are experiencing homelessness,” St Vincent de Paul Society Northern Regional President Rosie Caelli said.

“We have seen a noticeable increase in the number of people sleeping rough, especially in the North and North West of Tasmania.

“Currently there are over 5,000 Tasmanians on the waiting list for public housing and, with waiting times averaging at around 81 weeks due to lack of supply of appropriate accommodation, this number continues to grow.”

The Homelessness Week walk in Launceston will feature guest speakers talking on the theme of Homelessness Week – Homelessness Action Now.

Participants will gather at the City Park Rotunda, before a walk through the streets to Royal Park, where there will be a morning tea thanks to the City Mission Snag Chat Van, Salvation Army Street Beat Van and the Vinnies Van.

Each year the St Vincent de Paul Society marks Homelessness Week with events across Tasmania, and this year they will be attended by Tasmanian-based National President of the Society, Mark Gaetani, who is calling for more Government action.

“The lack of accessible and affordable housing is the main driver of the nation’s homelessness crisis,” Mr Gaetani said.

“While we wait for those in power to take real action to tackle the causes of homelessness, demand for frontline services continues to grow.

“Too many of us are just one life event away from housing stress – losing a job, falling ill, becoming a career, ending a relationship, being on a temporary visa, or experiencing family and domestic violence.

“Every day, we see that with the right support, people can stay housed and rebuild their lives.

“Secure housing lifts people out of poverty and leads to better outcomes in health, education, employment, and social participation. We look forward to all our governments acting faster to build more affordable accommodation.

“The time for real action to reverse Australia’s homelessness crisis is now.”

Current St Vincent de Paul Tasmania statistics

Vinnies supported 3,529 Tasmanian families this year.

Emergency Relief provided to 3,529 households statewide, July 2024 – June 2025

19,182 locals facing hardship.

Vinnies supported over 19,000 individuals with food relief statewide

Help rough sleepers across Tasmania now.

Increased rough sleeping, particularly in North and North West regions this winter

1 in 10 Companions sleeping rough.

(Up to 11% of Vinnies ER Companions are rough sleeping)

5000+ Tasmanians are on the public housing waitlist.

Almost 4,000 Tasmanians on the public housing waitlist are sleeping rough.