3Purposes of Act

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.