Leading not-for-profit Christian care provider Baptist Community Services – NSW & ACT [BCS] is seeking to address the critical need for affordable housing for seniors and people with a disability in the Lismore area.
BCS is seeking funding support from the Federal and State governments to develop 26 one and two-bedroom units, all built to be aged and disability friendly in their design. The housing is proposed for a site on Dibbs Street, Lismore, close to shops, public transport, Lismore Hospital and other community services.
BCS Strategic Development and Sustainability General Manager Mr Mike Furner said that in preparing its funding submission, BCS had identified affordable housing for seniors and people with a disability as a critical need in the local area.
“Both Lismore City Council and the Northern Rivers Social Development Council have identified these two groups as having significant unmet housing needs in the area, particularly for seniors who may not be able to afford to move into retirement villages,” Mr Furner said.
“We have also identified a disparity in the allocation of dwelling types to particular groups, such as single, older people living in a large house, which does not support their level of mobility or frailty.”
“We know that affordable housing in the area has become a matter of increasing community concern and we are hopeful that we will be successful in our application so we can make a real difference in addressing this basic human need.”
BCS, celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2009, provides care services across 160 facilities and programs in NSW and the ACT, employing more than 3600 people.
The organisation already operates a range of care services for the aged and people living with disabilities in the Northern Rivers areas, including the BCS Maranoa aged care centres in Alstonville and Lismore, BCS Maranoa retirement village in Alstonville and a range of in-home and respite care services through the BCS Care Centre – Northern Rivers.
Mr Furner said BCS’ new Lismore proposal builds upon the strengths of the organisation in combining the provision of housing with the existing capacity and expertise in meeting the ongoing care and support needs of residents.
BCS has applied for funding through the Federal Government’s National Rental Affordability Scheme and the State Government’s Social Housing Growth Fund.
It is anticipated that funding announcements will be made next month.
“Should BCS be successful it its funding application we look forward to working with Lismore Council to support the development and the necessary planning and approval process, which would allow residents to occupy the units by December 2010,” Mr Furner said.
“In developing the proposal we have also focused on the importance of the units being environmentally friendly as well.”
“BCS seeks to be a leading provider of built environments which are environmentally sustainable in their design and construction. The organisation will bring this commitment to the proposal which will reduce ongoing net energy demands and costs to future tenants.”