The number of people experiencing homelessness in the Port Macquarie region is on the rise.

Statistics and stories about the number of families in our communities struggling to pay the rent, living in crowded or unsuitable accommodation, or without secure shelter, have become so commonplace they no longer shock us the way they should.

* 248 people are experiencing homelessness, with 10+ people sleeping rough

* 987 households are on the general waitlist for social housing, with a further 156 households on the priority list. Wait-times in most major centres exceed 5 years3

* 3854 households are in rental stress, 46% of all renters. This is the sixth highest rate of rental stress in NSW

Local organizations are calling on the NSW Government to:

Ensure our housing system delivers on the right to home:

• Work towards 5000 new social housing homes per year

• Improve rental affordability

• Regulate for healthier homes

• Regulate for accessible homes

• Hold a housing summit

Protect renters through fairer tenancy laws:

• Ensure fair limits on rent increases

• Replace ‘no grounds’ evictions provisions

• Prohibit blanket no pets clauses

Fund specialist services for people who are homelessness:

• Invest an additional $152 million per annum in specialist homelessness service delivery

Video By | Olivia Grace-Curran