Funding questions over Coffs strategy to tackle rough sleeping

COFFS Harbour City Council’s draft homelessness strategy is now open for public feedback, as debate grows over state and local funding responsibilities.

The strategy outlines Council’s commitments for tackling rising rates of rough sleeping and housing insecurity in the region, in particular the unprecedented rise in people sleeping rough in public spaces.

While the recent annual street count put the number of rough sleepers in Coffs Harbour at 99, most community service providers believe the number is a significant undercount.

Community groups, advocates, and others are keen to see what the council is planning to do to help the homeless population, but the current political argument is focussed on who’s going to foot the bill.

As the closest tier of government to the community, councils are seen as an important source of local understanding and leadership on the issue.

“Although funding and service delivery is the responsibility of the State Government, councils are often the ones on the ground witnessing the impacts,” said Coffs Mayor Nikki Williams.

“This draft strategy shows our city is ready to be part of the solution, using the tools and resources we have available.”

The strategy sets out 12 initiatives under the three themes of advocacy, leadership, and collaboration.

It is designed to be implemented using existing staff and budget allocations.

But this approach does not include the provision of extra financial resourcing, which is seen by some as unacceptable.

Cr Williams said she is seeking a meeting with the NSW Government to clarify what support the region can expect.

“Our community deserves a fair share of the State Government’s $6.6 billion investment in housing,” she said.

“As a council, we’re prepared to do our part, but we can’t fund state responsibilities alone.”

The NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson, welcomes council-led initiatives to tackle homelessness and said she is committed to working in partnership to deliver outcomes.

“But the City of Coffs Harbour is seeking substantial state funding while proposing minimal investment of its own,” she said, noting that the state has made “historic investments” through the $100 million Homelessness Innovation Fund.

MP Gurmesh Singh said it is unfair to ask regional councils to foot the bill in a space that, traditionally, has not been their responsibility.

“Rose Jackson is the responsible minister and is in control of large government agencies with large budgets to help fix this problem,” he said.

While Coffs Harbour is not alone in seeking state and federal support to respond to the crisis, other regional councils have made strides in addressing homelessness, from supporting post-disaster recovery to regulating short-term rentals.

The draft Coffs Harbour Homelessness Strategy is now available on Council’s website.

Community members, service providers, and residents are encouraged to provide submissions during the exhibition period.

By Leigh WATSON