13 new social housing units for women aged 55 and over have been completed in New Town, almost doubling the number of homes on the site.
The $9.4 million development on Boa Vista Road includes 12 one-bedroom units and one two-bedroom unit, replacing seven former transitional housing units.
The project has increased the number of homes on the site by six, with the new units set to house women aged 55 and over on the housing register.
The federal government contributed $5.185 million through its Social Housing Accelerator Payment program, while the state government contributed $4.26 million through funding and land.
The development is one of seven Tasmanian projects sharing $50 million in federal funding to deliver 128 social and affordable homes.
All 13 units have been built to the silver level of the liveable housing design guidelines, with bathrooms meeting the gold level to help residents remain in their homes as they age.
Loreto Community Housing chief executive Cody Burdon said demand for social housing remained “really high basically everywhere throughout Tasmania”.
“When you’re talking about close to the CBD of Hobart, few and far between apartments like this come up,” he said.
“The availability of land just continues to be an issue, particularly the closer you get to the CBD, the harder it becomes.”
Fairbrother general manager Southern Tasmania Paul Ransley said planning requirements around car parking could make it harder to build more homes close to public transport.
“Some of the conditions that exist in the planning is around number of dwellings versus number of car parks,” he said.
“Now, that’s simple maths, but in some senses it doesn’t work.”
Homes Tasmania chief executive Ben Wilson said more than 5,500 homes had been delivered towards the government’s target of 10,000 social and affordable homes by 2032, with more than 284 under construction across the state.
Housing Minister Kerry Vincent said 135 homes were expected to be completed before Christmas.
“These 13 new homes will give women aged 55 and over greater security and independence, along with the dignity which comes with having a home of their own,” Vincent said.
Labor Senator Carol Brown said women were disproportionately affected by homelessness and housing insecurity.
“We have a responsibility to make sure our housing system provides appropriate options for women who need a safe and secure home,” Brown said.
