Shelter Tasmania has existed as the peak body for housing and housing related issues in Tasmania since 1975. In that time, Shelter has played a leading role in the development of the social housing sector and ensuring that both government and community hear and respond to the housing needs and experiences of low income and disadvantaged Tasmanians. While the work of Shelter has adapted to changing times, its fundamental purpose to promote a fair, just and equitable housing system for all, has not and will not change.

Shelter represents organisations from a range of housing and supported accommodation services, tenant groups, community organisations and individuals interested in housing. The Council of Homeless Persons (Tasmania) is a subcommittee of Shelter.

Shelter aims to provide an effective Tasmanian voice on housing and related issues by fulfulling the following objectives:

• To promote and maintain the right of every person to access affordable, safe and secure long term housing that they identify as appropriate to their needs.
  
• To promote and maintain the right of every person to housing of a quality which enhances people's health, well-being, dignity and life opportunities.
  
• To promote the benefits of public and community housing in the community and across all levels of government.
  
• To publish, research, collect and disseminate information on matters relating to the provision of housing, particularly for people on low to moderate incomes.
  
• To create opportunities to support, establish, resource and co-ordinate non-government organisations and agencies with similar interests and objectives to the Association.
  
• To promote opportunities for members of the community to access housing provision free from discrimination as a result of factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, health status or disability.
  
• To promote and support consumer and community participation in decision making in relation to their housing and to promote access to avenues of appeal across all housing tenures.
  
• To provide a structure that enables the members to inform policy development in a manner that is consistent with the objectives and vision of the association and also reflects the needs of homeless people and people who live in poverty or on low incomes.