Neil Bentick speaks about his struggles finding residency in Coffs Harbour
A Coffs Harbour resident is set to benefit from a new Mission Australia housing centre.We take a look at how the hub could shake up the ongoing housing crisis.
Coffs Harbour
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A Coffs resident has been given a fresh chance with an “impressive” new housing development.
Homelessness in Coffs Harbour peaked at 11 per cent in 2021, in part due to unaffordable property prices.
Neil Bentick spent seven years searching for a permanent place to call home as he lived in a granny flat.
“I couldn't do anything else,” Mr Bentick said.
Mr Bentick had been injured through work and was applying for several places but was rejected.
“It’s tough. One minute you have money, the next minute you have nothing,” he said.
It is a gruelling ordeal but now Mr Bentick has managed to move into the Mission Australia housing centre.
Mission Australia CEO James Toomey said the new building was a statement.
“I’m so proud of this centre, it’s an important development for Coffs Harbour,” Mr Toomey said.
He said he has worked in several “awful” buildings in the past, but was proud of the “impressive” new building.
“There are buildings that are last on the list of maintenance, what message does that send?
“It says you don’t matter – that you’re not important, you’re not important enough for us to invest in.”
The community hub aims to provides local people and families with access to a variety of support services under one roof.
The centre provides Mission Australia’s housing team and community services staff providing services.
Ten of Mission Australia’s 40 studio residential units are exclusively for young people aged 18-24 years.
15 units are available to tenants from the growing social housing wait list and 15 units are allocated to those requiring affordable housing such as workers on low incomes.
All residents have access to support services offered at the Mission Australia Centre and will have opportunities to stay involved and connected with the local community.
Mr Toomey said the it is important that people have access to the services as well as safe homes.
“We’ve prioritised engaging local voices and community input to ensure the centre is a welcoming place where people and families can seamlessly access a range of programs and services tailored to local needs in one location,” he said.
Mission Australia now deliver more than 1,100 social houses across Coffs Harbour.
“The 40 new social and affordable homes fulfil Mission Australia’s commitment to providing 177 new social and affordable housing dwellings in the region,” Mr Toomey said.
“We are proud to be boosting the supply of homes where we know there remains a shortage of affordable homes.”
He said his vision is to “ultimately end homelessness” in Coffs Harbour.
2016 Census data showed a 15% increase in the number of people who are homeless in Coffs Harbour since 2011, a rate higher than the national average.
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