MyState Foundation & Colony 47 to give Tasmanian youth a JumpStart into housing

In a Tasmanian first, Colony 47 is partnering with the MyState Foundation to deliver a new pilot program to help tackle Tasmania’s youth housing crisis.

The JumpStart program will provide furnished houses, subsidised rent, support, and property management to eligible Tasmanians aged between 18 and 24 years for up to 12 months.

It is targeted at young Tasmanians who are working or studying, with the aim of giving them the opportunity to build a private rental history and the skills to live independently over the year.

The program includes The JumpStart Share House Program, for those wanting to pay less rent by living in a share house environment, and The JumpStart Subsidy Program, for those wanting to live in a private rental but who need a little extra help with rent.

Colony 47 Chief Executive Officer Dianne Underwood said we have share houses ready soon that are now open for expressions of interest.

“We encourage eligible young Tasmanians to get in touch,” Ms Underwood said.

“There is an important ingredient that sometimes gets lost in conversations about the Tasmanian housing and homelessness crisis: The simple belief that it can be fixed.

“The latest Census data shows a 45 per cent increase in the number of Tasmanians experiencing homelessness from 2016-2021 – the highest of any state – and that the largest cohort of all homeless Tasmanians (at least 25%) are aged between 12-24 years.

“Our modelling shows an average $50 a week can help get someone into a safe, secure home and onto a path to further training or work.

“This is what our JumpStart program will provide. As a participant’s earnings increases over time, the support we provide will fall away at which time they will graduate the program with a rental history and further skills to live independently.”

The MyState Foundation is investing $56,800 over three years. This includes $46,800 to subsidise rent across two Share Houses, $10,000 for furniture, whitegoods and linen for the houses, and offering one-on-one financial coaching.

MyState Limited CEO Brett Morgan said the MyState Foundation was proud to partner with Colony 47 on the JumpStart program.

“The MyState Foundation has the simple mission of providing young Tasmanians with great opportunities, and that’s exactly what the JumpStart program will do in spades,” Mr Morgan said.

“JumpStart is the first of its kind in Tasmania, and it couldn’t be better timed with rental affordability getting tougher and tougher for so many young Tasmanians.

“This program will provide eligible young Tasmanians a fully furnished private rental and up to $50 a week to go towards rent.

“This isn’t a hand out, but rather a helping hand to get that all important foot in the door of a rental home.

“Importantly, we’re not just handing over a key to a house, we’re offering the chance to unlock good financial habits that will last a lifetime, with MyState expert staff to offer free, one-on-one coaching.

“By investing in JumpStart, the MyState Foundation builds on its proud 22-year history of helping young Tasmanians, awarding $2.51 million in grants to 140 Tasmanian not-for-profit organisations.”

Expressions of Interest in the JumpStart Programs are open at https://colony47.com.au/jumpstart/ Contact us at jumpstart@colony47.com.au