At crisis point: Mayor calls for urgent action on homelessness

Councillors voted unanimously to declare the situation is at a crisis point, and for the state and federal governments to step up.

It’s a crisis and it calls for urgent action.

This is the basis of a mayoral minute supported unanimously by Bellingen Shire Councillors at their general meeting on Wednesday which calls for immediate action from all levels of government on the homelessness crisis gripping the region.

Mayor Dominic King is calling on the state and federal governments to invest in social housing and modular housing options on government land within the Bellingen Shire.

“The challenges we are facing to provide existing and new community members with affordable housing options due to the financial and social impacts of the recent drought, bushfires, floods and the current pandemic – are challenges faced by many Councils in our region.”

He will also be tabling a motion at the Australian Local Government Association’s National General Assembly calling on the federal government to release $4 billion in unallocated Emergency Response Funds to help tackle the crisis.

“Ultimately, these funds could be invested immediately to strengthen every local community’s capacity to establish programs that would make a real difference by preparing for the housing crisis they face now, and into the future.”

Bellingen Shire Council deputy mayor Jennie Fenton with mayor Dominic King.

Bellingen council has been recognised for its proactive stance on the issue working with the local Housing Matters Action Group (HMAG) on a number of initiatives including reactivating the old Bellorana aged care facility in Watson St for affordable housing.

The mayoral minute follows the lead of a similar resolution by Byron Shire Council in late March.

With rental vacancies dropping to zero in some areas and house prices surging, the crisis shows no signs of easing.

Bellorana has been used as a Covid testing clinic.

Pre-Covid there were warnings of a ‘perfect storm’ of rising house prices and declining wages pushing more and more people to the edge.

Now as we emerge from the worst of the pandemic the situation is escalating as people escape the city.

Owners are returning to the region to work from home in properties they previously rented out while new listings are quickly snapped up.

Different levels of government have also been at odds on the issue.

Recently Coffs Harbour City Council was forced to defended its track record of development approval rates after Coffs Harbour MP Gurmesh Singh indicated it was below par and impacting the supply of homes on the market.

Rick Morris at the community village in Coffs Harbour recently. He was at the village to use the washing machines at Pete's Place. Photo by Janine Watson

Kerry Pearse, Chair of the Bellingen Housing Matters Action Group applauded Bellingen council for its continuing efforts to address the housing crisis.

“We strongly believe that action is needed at all levels of government, and Bellingen Shire Council has taken clear steps to call all parties to the table knowing the issue we are facing is bigger than just us,” Ms Pearse said.

“We know we need creative and innovative solutions to the housing crisis and that a one size fits all approach isn’t going to work.”