Matthew works with a range of organisations, managing the statewide contracts for both homelessness and longer-term accommodation services, including the men’s shelters, the North-West women’s shelter, Safe Spaces and is part of the team supporting the Housing Connect contracts.

“I manage contracts for services that specialise in people support, working with service providers to implement policy,” he said.

“It is all about relationship building and bringing services together to deliver the best services possible for people in need.

“We all want to get people into houses, and we are working together to answer the question, ‘how do we make this happen’?”

Matthew has been working between CatholicCare and Anglicare and the various shelters to implement the improved Housing Connect service system.

“Each shelter has its target group, experience, and neighbourhood it works in. So, there are different types of management and approaches to delivering a service,” he said.

“It’s important to understand each service’s experience helping people facing homelessness”.

“The staff that provide front line support know how to help a person facing homelessness gain or regain their independence and it’s quite humbling to see how they approach their work and get results.”

Prior to working at Homes Tasmania, Matthew was a social worker. Working with people is something he loves.

“I feel like I’ve really found a good place at Homes Tasmania, it’s such a diverse organisation that is values-driven,” he said.

“Overall, it’s quite a small organisation but the scope of work we do is incredible. It’s great that our staff get out and about and to see the real experience of homelessness and housing instability and the outcome of our work every time someone is housed.

“Our team shares happy stories among ourselves. We had a father recently reunify with his children in a shelter at Marram Place because the North West men’s shelter was built to include a family room for this reason. Now his children get the opportunity to live with their father and it’s been a great outcome for everyone.

“This line of work really showcases how privileged we are to have a house and a job and the see conversations around homelessness are changing. Finally, there is recognition that it’s nothing to be ashamed of and there are people and services there to help.”