COFFS Harbour City Council has endorsed a project scope for a future Affordable/Social Housing Policy and will consider allocating $110,000 to progress the policy.

Issues around affordable and social housing in the Coffs Harbour local government area will be addressed during the development of the policy.

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Opportunities and constraints to providing affordable and/or social housing will be investigated and a review of case studies undertaken by local governments elsewhere will be carried out.

Due to the current critical lack of affordable housing within the region, an interim policy is proposed to be developed for adoption by Council within four weeks.

Cr Sally Townley spoke in support of the new policy at Council’s meeting on Thursday 22 July.

“Thank you to fellow councillors for supporting this new direction and thanks for the staff for scoping up the project,” Cr Townley said.

“I think we all agree it’s a huge area and that we do want to try and do what we can towards it.

“I look forward to seeing what comes of it.”

A Council report on the policy noted that homelessness is not included within the scope of the project.

“It is recognised that homelessness in the community is an outcome of issues in housing affordability, housing supply and adequacy of social housing in the region,” the report stated.

“In recognition of this increasingly emerging issue, Council is examining options with regard to homelessness and beginning to work closer with the homelessness service sector to advocate for improving outcomes for the community with regard to homelessness and people at risk of homelessness.”

Councillors unanimously voted to endorse the project scope for the development of an Affordable/Social Housing Policy, and consider the allocation of $110,000 at Council’s next quarterly budget review to progress the development of an Affordable/Social Housing Policy.

By Emma DARBIN