The Minns Labor government says it is taking immediate and innovative action to tackle the housing crisis, converting the disused Fromelles aged care facility in Lismore into safe and secure crisis accommodation for those most in need.
As part of the $100 million Homelessness Innovation Fund, Homes NSW, in partnership with Social Futures, will deliver 30 self-contained en-suite rooms, providing safe and secure shelter for individuals and families.
The 2024 Statewide Street Count data shows a steady rise in homelessness rates in Lismore, reflecting a concerning trend of increasing homelessness across the North Coast.
The $768,862 Lismore project funding is a targeted intervention by the NSW Government, empowering organisations to deliver improved services and outcomes for those at risk of homelessness.
This investment provides organisations a solid foundation to trial new approaches and focus on early intervention and prevention strategies to ensure a person’s experience of homelessness is rare, brief, and not repeated.
Part of NSW package
The Homelessness Innovation Fund is just one part of the comprehensive $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW Package, announced in the 2024–25 NSW Budget,
The NSW government says it is encouraging organisations to apply for a one-off grant to improve outcomes for people facing homelessness, with the aim of reducing ongoing demand for temporary accommodation and supporting more people to move into stable housing.
The fund is open to accredited homelessness services and registered Community Housing Providers (CHPs) or Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs), or those on the pathway to achieving accreditation or registration.
Applications can be made now and are open until April 2025, with the next assessment rounds in March and May.
To find out more, visit the links below:
Innovative action
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Rose Jackson said, ‘Turning an unused aged care facility into crisis accommodation is exactly the kind of innovative action we need to tackle the housing crisis.
‘The 30 units in Lismore and 70 new beds in Tweed will give people across the Northern Rivers a safe and secure place to rebuild their lives during incredibly challenging times.
‘We’re delivering on our promise to harness the expertise of non-government partners, frontline workers, and those with lived experience to fund innovative ideas and services that set us on the path toward ending homelessness in this state.
‘We’ve been clear, relying on costly hotels and motels is not the solution,’ she said. ‘We need person-centred approaches that provide high-quality, tailored support and help people move toward stable, long-term housing.
‘Following our significant investment, we are firmly focused on delivery. Applications remain open, and we strongly encourage organisations to put forward bold and innovative ideas to help transform the way we address homelessness.’
Vital step forward
Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin said, ‘This project is a vital step forward in addressing homelessness in Lismore.
‘Transforming a disused facility into a safe and secure place for individuals and families shows what can be achieved when government, community organisations, and local leaders work together.
‘Our region has faced extraordinary challenges, this funding ensures that some of our most vulnerable community members will have access to shelter and support when they need it most,’ she said.
‘The NSW government is demonstrating its commitment to finding long-term, innovative solutions to homelessness that focus on dignity, stability and hope for the future.’
Social Futures CEO, Tony Davies said, ‘Today’s announcement of funding is welcome news for the Lismore community as we work to improve housing outcomes for vulnerable people in one of the highest need areas of the state outside of Sydney.
‘The Homelessness Innovation Fund grant will enable us to deliver a unique support services hub model in the heart of Lismore’s proposed health precinct. ‘It will meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable and offer wrap around supports to benefit health and wellbeing.’
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