Lismore: $3.4m major housing project to tackle homelessness crisis
Lismore is set to receive a significant boost in its efforts to address homelessness with the proposed transformation of a former residential care facility into temporary supported accommodation.
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Lismore is set to receive a significant boost in its efforts to address homelessness with the proposed transformation of a former residential care facility into temporary supported accommodation.
Initially announced in December 2024 as part of the $100m Homelessness Innovation Fund, Homes NSW has partnered with Social Futures on the project.
“We hope to have the formal planning, approvals and refurbishment complete for use in the second part of 2025,” Social Futures asset manager community housing Barrie Lowder said.
Located at 45 McKenzie Street, the development aims to provide crucial housing and comprehensive support services for individuals and families experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.
The project, spearheaded by Social Futures Ltd, a registered community housing provider, will repurpose the existing two-storey building, which has been vacant since the devastating 2022 flood event.
The plans include 58 temporary accommodation rooms, primarily single, with some larger rooms suitable for family groups.
Each room will feature an ensuite, and some bathrooms will be accessible for people with disabilities.
The estimated cost for the development is $3,395,595.50, reflecting the extent of repairs, refurbishment, and alterations required.
Communal areas such as laundries, kitchens, dining, lounge, and children’s playrooms will be available on both floors, with designated women’s-only spaces for enhanced safety.
Access to the facility will be by reservation only, typically via the Link2Home 24/7 service or the local Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) office, ensuring a controlled environment and no “drop-in” clients.
The average length of stay is expected to be longer than the statewide average of 2-7 nights due to regional housing shortages, but a “wraparound’ support model” aims to facilitate faster transitions to stable housing.
The facility will be staffed 24/7 by up to 10 employees, including site leads, night managers, and clinical staff.
A wide array of on-site support services will be offered, including financial and legal advice, counselling, First Nations support, mental health services, and assistance with obtaining essential documents.
Collaborations with organisations like The Buttery and Bundjalung Tribal Society will further enhance service delivery.
Security is a key consideration, with plans for 24/7 staffing, CCTV monitoring, secure entry points (including a segregated female entry), and intensive on-site security patrols during initial months.
Despite the site’s flood-prone location, a detailed flood evacuation plan has been prepared to ensure resident safety.
The development will occur in two stages, with internal alterations and upgrades to fire-rated walls in Stage 1, followed by the construction of new communal spaces in Stage 2.
The existing two-storey building will be refurbished to include office spaces, medical rooms, and a training facility, alongside the temporary accommodation.
The building, which suffered extensive damage during the 2022 flood event, is located within a 3,503 square metre area in the heart of Lismore, being just 180 metres from Lismore Square Shopping Centre and 230 metres from Lismore Base Hospital.
The development is currently on exhibition with Lismore City Council.
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