Rapid-built modular homes to help tackle housing crisis in NSW

They were used to give shelter to thousands of displaced residents during the devastating North Coast floods last year and now they could be used to tackle the state’s critical housing shortage.

Families struggling to find an affordable place to live would be put up in permanent modular homes as part of a Minns government trial to tackle NSW’s critical housing shortage.

Modular homes gave shelter to thousands of displaced residents in the aftermath of the devastating North Coast floods of last year.

The Queensland government has already been rolling out modular homes to tackle its own housing ­crisis, partnering with prefabricated house builders to place more than 100 homes before the end of the year.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal next week’s State Budget, where housing will be a key focus, will include $10m to kickstart NSW’s own trial, which will examine where modular homes could placed and potential suppliers.

Unlike the floods where modular homes were used as temporary accommodation, the government will trial modular homes as a permanent housing solution to plug the gap in supply.

Families struggling to make ends meet would be put up in permanent modular homes as part of a Minns government plan to tackle housing shortage.

The trial will be part of a $224m “essential housing package” to be unveiled in Tuesday’s State Budget, which the Minns government has declared will start the rebuild of NSW’s broken housing system.

The package will go towards addressing what the government described as a “historic neglect” of new social housing supply, while trialling innovative solutions to get people off the social housing waitlist.

NSW premier Chris Minns said the budget would have measures aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness. Picture: NCA NewsWIRE: Monique Harmer

According to government data, the face of homelessness has changed in recent times with more young people, seniors over the age of 55 and people with no previous history of homelessness unable to get access to housing. 

The housing package will include $70m to fast-track the construction of social and affordable homes with regional areas to be a key focus. The funding will go towards initial land and site works.

The Queensland Government has already implemented a modular home trial.

Another $53m will bolster housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and families, with $35m going towards social housing maintenance.

The package will also include $20m reserved for Restart NSW for dedicated mental health housing and $15m towards a NSW Housing Fund for priority housing and homelessness measures.

$11m will also be set aside in urgent funding to continue the Together Home program for people sleeping on the street and another $11m for emergency funding for temporary accommodation for vulnerable people. A community housing leasing program well under way in NSW will receive more than $10m with almost $6m allocated to specialist homelessness services to respond to the increasing demand.

Premier Chris Minns said the package aimed to break the cycle of homelessness by bolstering social and affordable housing services. Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson said it was important everybody had a safe place to call home.

The budget will also address the state’s rental and supply crisis.

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