DIY Dads addressing homelessness in Hobart
DIY Dads, a Hobart City Mission program that helps homeless single fathers, is struggling to keep up with the demand for its services.
The facility has eight two-bedroom units that have been occupied since October 2024, with more than 30 families on the waitlist, according to program leader David Taylor (pictured).
“Sometimes dad finds himself with the children through no fault of his own, homeless because the private rental situation has changed, he’s selling the house or renovating to get more income and can’t afford to stay there any longer,” he told The Mercury newspaper (Paywall).
“There’s no safe place for dads and kids to go except for us. DIY Dads is a trauma informed-therapeutic community to help single fathers get back on their feet.”
Referring dads to other services was getting harder due to overwhelming demand, in particular mental health support, he added.
“Children who come here mainly have domestic violence trauma or generational poverty and sometimes this is generations deep,” he said.
David Taylor: Credit: Hobart City Mission
Along with those who receive accommodation, DIY Dads tries to help families on the waitlist and those who leave the program after they transition to more permanent accommodation.
Services include counselling, food, clothing, blankets, financial mentoring, and helping dads rebuild. “It’s like a ground-up rebuild,” he said. “We will work with the dad; we will help him get back on his feet and then we will advocate through child services for other children to come back and live with him as the primary care-giver.”
DIY Dads receives no on-going government funding, and operates through donations from the community.