Housing crisis: Lismore family applies for 400 homes

A Northern Rivers family of five has been uprooted after experiencing homelessness for seven months despite applying for hundreds of rentals in the area.

It may be a goldmine for those who have long held a piece of the housing market pie.

The current market situation has however, spelled heartache for many families.

Among those at the coalface of the housing crisis are Alishia Dean, Michael Diaz and their three young children.

They have applied for more than 400 homes while spending seven months homeless and moving in and out of temporary housing, Ms Dean said.

They moved to Northern NSW from South Australia to be close to their family and support network last July.

But keeping a roof over their heads has proved challenging.

In the past week, they secured a public housing place but accepting it has meant uprooting their lives again, this time to Grafton.

While awaiting the outcome of their latest rental application – for a home in Casino – Ms Dean said they were given two hours to consider the offer of a place in Grafton.

They have accepted this, but it will mean moving away from the schools, daycare, and a family support organisation they’ve been working with in Lismore.

Michael Diaz and Alishia Dean have accepted a public housing position in Grafton after applying for more than 400 houses in the Lismore area. Picture: Liana Boss

Ms Dean said they believed moving to Lismore would be positive for the family.

“It wasn't a decision taken lightly but it was what’s best for my children,” she said.

“We moved to Lismore to be close to family so my kids have family.

“They’ve since established friends at school and daycare and preschool and supporting networks.”

Bidding wars

They have had little choice but to accept the Grafton home.

“Housing in the area is ridiculous because there is a bidding war going on in rentals,” she said.

“You go for a house inspection, the house could be (listed for) $390.

“When you go to look, by the time you’re leaving it’s up to $570, $580.”

While rental bidding is prohibited in Queensland and Victoria, it’s not illegal NSW.

It does however contravene real estate regulations and the Real Estate Institute of NSW Code of Practice.

“If someone’s willing to pay the higher price, of course the owner’s going to take the higher price,” she said.

The family has been in and out of temporary accommodation and at one of those locations, some of them were attacked by bedbugs.

“I’ve heard of people being homeless for eight, ten, 11 months in the area,” Ms Dean said.

“I’ve heard of families living on the streets.

“The struggle is out there and it is quite confronting.”

Sick with worry

Ms Dean said their tenuous situation often played on her mind.

“It’s really tough and when you’ve got young kids we worry day in, day out where we're going to be from one day to the next,” she said.

“As a parent, you want those kids to know that wherever they are they’re safe and they’re not going to be in any harm.

“I’ve had nights where I felt sick to my stomach with worry over my kids, and where we’re going to be tomorrow.”

As families like hers continue to jostle for limited homes, decision makers on the Northern Rivers are taking steps to try to alleviate the crisis.

There are projects under way in the Byron shire aimed at easing housing stress. Picture: Liana Boss

For the Byron Shire, a range of planning proposals currently before the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment have the potential to ease some housing pressures.

Planning proposals to ease the pressure

One of those proposals suggests the introduction of an affordable housing contributions scheme.

It has been sent to the department for Gateway Determination and a review process began on December 16 last year.

Also referred for Gateway Determination is Byron Shire Council’s proposal for a tiny housing development to be established on land owned and managed by the housing; a review of this began back in May 2021.

A further proposal to allow dual occupancies and secondary dwellings on rural community title developments is before the department for an adequacy assessment.

Byron Shire Council voted for a range of other actions at a meeting this month, the first of the new council term.

Councillors unanimously voted to lobby the state government to push for stamp duty to be used to target crisis housing situations.

They will take that appeal to the Local Government NSW Special Conference.

Councillors also agreed to create a Housing and Affordability Advisory Committee and to convene a second housing summit for the Byron Shire.
In the Ballina Shire, the group behind a planned pilot social housing project for vulnerable women are concerned progress has stalled with their local council.

Wollongbar resident Marilyn Perkins is the driving force behind a proposal for a social housing pilot project for mature women. While Ballina Shire Council resolved in July 2021 to launch a tender process for a block of council-owned land, there has not been any more visible progress on the project. Picture: Liana Boss

There is $500,000 set aside for construction of four proposed cabins, but an open tender process to consider all options for the council-owned land has not yet gone ahead.

Wollongbar resident Marilyn Perkins says the project has been driven by concern for vulnerable older women.

Women over the age of 55 are the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness.

The council has said action on the tender process is “progressing”, with councillors expected to be briefed on the matter this month.

At the time of publication, there were 11 rentals available in the suburb of Lismore.

Of 26 listings in Byron Bay, 16 properties were going for more than $1000 a week, while some had no price listed.