Housing, construction and government representatives gathered in Hobart on Monday for the first meeting of a ministerial reference group.

The Liberal state government earlier this year pledged $1.5 billion towards the 10-year housing package.

Shelter Tasmania CEO Pattie Chugg says housing stress has been rising up the income ladder.

"We're particularly concerned about women and children. We think it's time for a dedicated housing strategy," she told reporters.

"We know they're over-represented in the homeless population, over-represented in poverty and long-term poverty.

"Older women are the quickest (growing) group of people experiencing homelessness. That's a pretty sad tale.

"It's time for Tasmania to lead the way about securing affordable and secure housing for women ... and women and children escaping domestic violence."

Hobart is considered the nation's least affordable capital city for renters, according to the Rental Affordability Index.

There were more than 4400 applications on Tasmania's social housing register in May, an increase of about 400 from a year earlier.

It takes on average more than 66 weeks to house a priority applicant, according to state government data.

Kim Bomford, general manager of Housing Choices in Tasmania which provides around 2100 accessible and affordable houses statewide, described the government's target as "very ambitious".

"Supply is the biggest thing we can do, along with the associated policy settings around support for those people experiencing homelessness or needing support to sustain those tenancies," she said.

The state government is expected to release a discussion paper on the issue and introduce legislation to parliament to create a new housing authority in coming weeks.

"Every Tasmanian deserves a roof over their head. This is a key priority for us," Construction and Housing Minister Guy Barnett said.

"There were differences of views (at the meeting) but there was a common theme in terms of our ambitions."

Australian Associated Press