Two plans to improve housing accessibility for Lake Macquarie's most vulnerable people have taken steps towards implementation.
A focus on housing for people with disabilities will be incorporated into the Lake Macquarie Housing Strategy, while the draft Ending Homelessness Plan 2021-2024 looks set to be exhibited after councillors endorsed both motions on Monday night.
The update of the Housing Strategy to include a disability focus is needed in order to increase the amount of accessible housing as a proportion of the city's stock.
Councillor David Belcher said the motion was a good first step in acknowledging and identifying that accessible housing is of concern within the city of Lake Macquarie.
"I note in the report that some 24,700 residents of our city identify as having disability that results in mobility limitations, so clearly there is a need for accessible housing stock in this city and for it to be included in our housing strategy is definitely appropriate," Cr Belcher said.
Similarly, the draft Ending Homelessness Plan aims to implement actions to ensure coordinated efforts are undertaken to respond to the issue of homelessness.
The council report said while it was difficult to obtain accurate homelessness statistics, research indicates a rise in people sleeping rough in Lake Macquarie.
Councillor Colin Grigg said homelessness was something that needed to be looked at, particularly with the tightening of the housing market through COVID-19.
