AT ANY one time in Tamworth more than 150 people are homeless or sleeping rough, Tamworth Family Support Service Homelessness manager Tanya Rogers said.
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"That's only the people we work with, you could probably triple that and triple it again for people who aren't working with any service," she said.
"We don't have a lot of visible homelessness, we have invisible homelessness."
Homes North has called on the state government to address chronic housing stress with the New England and North West region in need of 6,900 new social homes by 2036.
An Anglicare study revealed there's not one rental property affordable or suitable for a single person on Newstart or Youth Allowance in the region.
And, affordable homes are on the decline for elderly people on the pension.
The region will need another 1,500 below market rental properties to support families on minimum wages or low incomes, Homes North chief executive Maree McKenzie said.
"In our region we are suffering from a dramatic undersupply of affordable housing," she said.
"In areas like Armidale, Tamworth and Narrabri, the homes just aren't there."
Groups that find it particularly difficult to rent are young people on lower wages who are often discriminated against by landlords, Ms McKenzie said.
Tamworth faces unique issues with electricity prices 16 per cent higher than anywhere else in the state.
Low-income earners or those on Centrelink benefits are entitled to 28 days of temporary accommodation, once that runs out people are forced to look for emergency accommodation in refuges. Those who are lucky enough to own a car will sleep there.
The wait list for social housing can be anywhere from three weeks to three months for people on the priority list, one in three new social homes needed in the state are outside of Sydney.
Tamworth Family Support Service runs a women's and youth refuge but Ms Rogers said both are full 99 per cent of the time.
"Until we get more social housing or more affordable housing it will be increasingly difficult and that's why people get frustrated," she said.
"The government needs to look at that for regional and rural NSW because we also have the tyranny of distance and problems with transport."
The region will need 5,400 new homes for people on low incomes or Centrelink benefits in two decades.
Madeline Link
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
Madeline Link is a journalist at the Newcastle Herald, with a focus on Lake Macquarie City Council. To keep up with my stories, follow my Twitter @madeline_link, for tips email madeline.link@newcastleherald.com.au.
