The volunteer-run charity group, Camden Haven Community at 3, based in the Camden Haven region south of Port Macquarie, started serving meals and providing other support to locals in need about seven years ago.

After noticing an increasing number of homeless people in the wake of housing shortages and rent rises, Camden Haven Community at 3 decided to focus its efforts to help those sleeping rough.

Deputy chair Brian Giles-Browne said the group formed a plan to raise money to buy an old motel in the area and convert it into temporary housing.

"We know that currently in the Camden Haven there are about 19 people living in cars, and if you push out into some of the bushland areas around Bago, we know there are other people living in tents and caravans and doing it tough," he said.

"Anyone can find themselves in a homelessness situation, it's something that happens overnight."

'Transitional housing':

The group hopes to purchase a former motel in the nearby Kew area and is in the process of fundraising.

"We have an options agreement to purchase the property within 12 months," Mr Giles-Browne said.

"We are in the process of applying for government and philanthropic grants and looking at donations.

"We have already had grants from companies and businesses.

"One business has just donated $100,000 to the cause."

The group hopes to eventually establish more accommodation on the large motel site.

"Walk-in, walk-out, we would have 10 motel rooms available to us, plus a house with three bedrooms — and it's on five acres, with the possibility for us to put up to 20 cabins or caravan-type sites on the property," Mr Giles-Browne said.

"Then we could cater for between 60 to 80 people at one time.

"It will be pre-booked accommodation for people looking to transition to other accommodation.

"It can also be a place where we can have an outdoor kitchen and outdoor shower facility for people who are doing it tough living in cars … where they can come and base themselves for a period of time until they resettle."

Mr Giles-Browne said the group was in the process of making a development application to use the former motel as a transitional accommodation centre.

Older people vulnerable:

Mr Giles-Browne said many of those in need were older men and women.

"A lot of women who have found themselves single after retirement, husbands have passed away," he said.

"Rents have gone up quite dramatically and they are finding themselves on the streets because their single pension just can't afford the rent, and there are no rental accommodations for people to move into."

Homelessness NSW chief executive Trina Jones said homelessness across NSW was at "unprecedented levels" and there was a growing trend of people ending up on the streets later in life.

She said innovative community solutions were welcome.

"The NSW Housing Register shows over 15,000 people aged 55 and over waiting to access social housing and it is widely accepted these figures grossly under-represent the actual community need," Ms Jones said.

"The impact of the rising cost of living … a dire shortage of affordable rental homes, and regional areas where potential rentals lie vacant for short-term holiday lets, are all adding to the challenge."

The Camden Haven Community at 3 group is publicly launching its Transitional Accommodation Project in March with the aim of encouraging a "community-driven" approach.

"The launch is mostly about our local businesses, our service associations, churches and schools getting behind us," Mr Giles-Browne said.

"The dream is that this time next year we will be in and up and running."

More At | communityat3.org.au

Original Story By | Emma Siossian & Cameron Marshall