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Australia's most extensive directory of community support services providing access to 242,055 health, welfare and community service records. There is currently over 4,600 services listed for the Northern NSW area.

Social Priority Issue: Housing PDF Print E-mail
housing1
Since 1997, housing has continually been raised as major area of concern for the Northern Rivers social and community services sector. Consultations with the sector in 2004 revealed the following three housing priority areas:
  • More affordable housing supply (social, private, caravans).
  • Adequate support services to support tenancies.
  • Adequate crisis accommodation provision linked to affordable exit housing.
The Evidence

Affordability of Housing

housing_map

Source: Centre for Affordable Housing, Dec 2003.

Tenancy Support
There are only a few services in our region which provide support to individuals and families who have difficulty in maintaining tenancy. The limited number of affordable housing available both within the public and private rental markets are adding to the difficulties for people with low incomes to maintain tenancies. Evidence from Tenancy Support projects run by the NSW Department of Housing confirms that with sufficient support, those people who have complex needs do maintain their tenancies longer.

Crisis Accommodation
Evidence from both Service Providers and information from the National SAAP Data Collection Agency confirm that demand for crisis accommodation services out strips supply. A recent review of Crisis Accommodation Brokerage services, completed in the Northern Rivers yielded this response from one service: “The [service] worker stated that on average he turns away 4 – 8 people a month for lack of funds to assist them with overnight accommodation. He recollects a month in which all available funds were spent in the first two weeks.”

Proposed NRSDC Actions

Affordable Housing
Establishment of a regional Affordable Housing Development Project. This project will attract developers, finance and social housing providers into affordable housing partnerships to increase supply. The project will be based on successful examples in other parts of NSW. Tenancy Support.

Crisis Accommodation
Through the Regional Affordable Housing Development Project, increase the number of exit options for crisis accommodation services.

Regional Housing Forum
The establishment of a Regional Housing Forum assist in identifying service gaps and improve service coordination.

Sources

  • Centre for Affordable Housing, NSW Department of Housing Affordability data: http://www.housing.nsw.gov.au/
  • Northern Rivers Housing Action Workshops, A Report on Housing & Accommodation Priorities in the Northern Rivers
  • Affordable Housing Solutions: Creating new affordable housing on the North Coast of NSW – Conference Proceedings, NRSDC 2005 Region of NSW, NRSDC, 2004
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