CALL OUT FOR 2024 #1

CONTEXT NOTE

Given the Councils clear disinclination to be proactive regarding assisting in the provision

of more housing that enables people suffering HOUSINGstress to cope more adequately

with their individual circumstances short and long term. There is a need and there are

opportunities for Local Governance to be innovative and proactive in this space.

Thus far Council has been countenancing TALKfests designed and devised to establish

that there is nothing that Council can do etc. etc. etc. While on the other hand Local Govt.

elsewhere that have taken the lead and changed their management style away from

disallowing innovative approaches towards findings ways to speed up change etc.

Attempt to canvass some of these with planners and you will find yourself being lectured

on this regulation, that by-law etc. and being lent a DEAFear.

Since the longest night of the year, and as likely as not it will be one of the coldest, is

almost upon us there is a need for Council to overtly demonstrate the care that is so often

says it has for the VISIBLYhomeless. Without doubt, the community would welcome some

leadership in this space.

With Council printing a brochure for the VISIBLYhomeless advising them to go-see one of

the city’s charities has floated like a LEADballoon … and sadly so! Given this there is

scope for Council, Councillors, and management to provide some leadership in this space

there is a real need that it does. What is actually needed is more housing and there are

ways to do that if we look for them.

THE QUESTION

Will Council NOW show leadership by sponsoring a ROUGHsleep on Town Hall’s steps

that is directed towards gaining community sponsorships for the city’s ROUGHsleeps and

with the ‘sponsorship money raised’ going toward acquiring/buying(?) appropriate

accommodation to assist with the alleviation of Launcestonians HOUSINGstress and

homelessness, and with the FIRSTevent being the SHORTEST DAY AND LONGEST

NIGHT 2024?

City of Launceston Council Meeting Agenda Thursday 30 May 2024 Page 17

Response:

The City of Launceston's commitment to addressing the issue of homelessness for our

community is focussed on

• Changing the narrative.

• Engaging the community.

• Facilitation of cohesive services.

• Striving towards prevention.

• Engaging in data informed decision making.

• Advocacy

• Ensuring transparency and accountability.

Council does not consider provision of accommodation a service that is appropriately

provided by the local government sector.

RESPONSE TO THIS SOMEWHAT SILLYresponse

FIRSTLY, for this response the AUTHOR: Lorraine Wyatt (Council and Committees Officer) & Authorised by ACTING CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER: Shane Eberhardt and it totally misses the point of the question not to mention that management is responding on behalf of the ELECTED 12. HOW DOES THAT WORK!?

Basically, management is saying that the COUNCILLORS endorse its predisposition to TALK-A-LOT and deliver meaningless rhetoric while they (management sit quite commfortably on their collective hands) maintain that HOMELESSNESS is not inn anyway their gig. Perhaps 'management' could have a crack at explaining that to the distressed and distraught poeple suffering HOUSINGstress!!

WHAT TO DO!!

Well on the shortest day and the LONGEST  Launcestonians might well:

• Sponsor a Councillor OR Council Officer to SLEEPrough on Town Hall's steps; and
• Musicians and others might turn up anf HAVE-A-BIG-JAMMsession on Town Hall's steps with anything that makes music ... sauscepans even; and
• Collect LOTZ-AND-LOTZ-OF-MONEY from sponsors to buy/lease property for the use of people suffering HOUSINGstress!!

NB: DONATIONS TO STRIKE-IT-OUT ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE!!