Housing support, Flood Recovery shuttle bus

At-home caravans are available to residents in certain areas who are unable to live in their homes due to flood damage. At-home caravans are available to residents in certain areas who are unable to live in their homes due to flood damage.

You can register for the program if you lived in one of the following LGAs before the February 2022 natural disaster:

• Richmond Valley
• Byron
• Ballina
• Lismore
• Tweed

As part of the program, caravans can be located on:

• a resident’s private property
• a rental property with permission from the landlord
• someone else’s private property (family or friends) with their permission.

The caravans are provided at no cost under a hire agreement. Properties are assessed to make sure they can safely accommodate a caravan. You'll still need to pay your regular bills like water, electricity and sewage.

How to apply for the at-home caravan program

In the Northern Rivers, the NSW Reconstruction Authority has partnered with local Recovery Support Services (RSS) for the at-home caravan program.

When you apply, you will need to supply:

• proof of ownership of the property where the caravan will be placed, or permission from the owner of the property
• photos to show where the caravan will be placed and the access route.

For more information and an application form, contact your local RSS in the Northern Rivers.

How properties are assessed for the at-home caravan program

Not all properties are suitable for caravans. Properties will be assessed on criteria such as the size and slope, and available services.

If your property was assessed as unsuitable, you can submit further information to:

• Camplify – 1300 416 133
• NSW Reconstruction Authority – (02) 9212 9200 or email caravans@resilience.nsw.gov.au.

Lismore City Council has prepared a fact sheet on temporary accommodation options for residents displaced by the 2022 natural disaster.

People who have been displaced may install a moveable dwelling, such as a caravan, on land for up to two years without council approval, according to the Local Government Regulation 2021. For more details, please see the Temporary Accommodation Fact Sheet(PDF, 783KB).

The Northern Rivers Tenants Advice & Advocacy Service (NORTAAS) provides free advice and referral for all tenants and residential parks residents in the NSW Northern Rivers.

Their services are available to renters from Tweed Heads to Grafton and west to Drake.

NORTAAS is a program of Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre. For issues around your rights as a renter after a disaster, please see the fact sheet.

To make a request for advise please use their online intake form. 

Contact the NR Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service on (02) 6621 1022 or 1800 649 135.

Operating hours:

• Monday 12pm to 4pm
• Tuesday 9am to 1pm
• Wednesday 9am to 1pm
• Thursday CLOSED
• Friday 9am to 1pm
• Saturday CLOSED
• Sunday CLOSED

Visit the website for more.

If you were homeless at the time of the floods or at risk now and are looking for overnight accommodation, please call Link2Home on 1800 152 152.

Connecting Home

Suite 6, Level 1, 29 Molesworth Street (Westlawn Building), Lismore

Connecting Home supports people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, to identify and source sustainable housing. Their program workers do this through informing people about their options, linking to appropriate housing providers (such as Housing New South Wales, Community Housing, as well as private rental options) and community supports and services.  Connecting Home is government funded and is a voluntary service provided to young people (16-25), adults (of any age), and families. Contact them on 1800 048 310.

Connecting Home is not a service that provides support to people in crisis. Anyone who is feeling unsafe should call 000, the Mental Health Access Line 1800 011 511 or Lifeline 131 114. 

Momentum Collective (Ballina/Lismore)

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Homelessness & Prevention Service

3/79 Tamar Street, Ballina

There are many people in our communities at risk of, or currently experiencing homelessness.

• Momentum offer personalised case management for holistic support to address the reasons that might be contributing to your housing situation
• Provide assistance and advocacy to maintain and sustain your existing tenancy
• If needed, can support you to be able to find your new home
• Facilitate access to crisis housing
• Offer help with learning the skills you need to achieve your goals and a safe and stable home environment.
• Offer culturally appropriate and safe services especially for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and their families, through collaboration with our partner agencies.
  These partners include Northern Rivers Community Gateway, Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council, Boolangle Local Aboriginal Land Council and Gurehlgam Corporation.

If your tenancy is at risk, or you are currently sleeping rough or in your car, staying with friends, or living in overcrowded or unsafe homes, contact them for help on 1800 387 867.

Northern Rivers Community Gateway – Helping Hands

Helping Hands is a service for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Rivers region who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless.

If you have nowhere to live or need to move out of your home soon and have not found another place to live, Helping Hands can support you.to find stable housing that you can afford, either in your current home or by finding you a new one.

To make an appointment, call them on (02) 6621 7397 or send an email to hub@nrcg.org.au.