BY JAMES CARTER
Port Stephens Council is encouraging the community to get involved in housing solutions for those experiencing homelessness.
There are over 116,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Australia.
Hume Community Housing provides homes and services to people in Port Stephens. The number of people accessing temporary accommodation in Port Stephens through Hume last financial year was 320, with a further 1,264 enquiries.
Sally Regan, Hume’s Senior Manager Social Outcomes, says temporary accommodation is in short supply in Port Stephens.
"We have had an increase in demand in enquires for people seeking accommodation in the last 12 months, that has happened nationally in regional areas"
"Families with low incomes that find it hard to break into home ownership are now being priced out of the private rental market." Ms Regan said.
Headleasing is when an owner leases a property to a community housing provider, which then sub-leases the property to clients approved for social housing.
The provider pays full market rent and bond and conducts repairs for the entire lease, while providing a family with a secure home.
