Renters and mortagees in the Northern Rivers region have their hands clasped in prayer, with the Iemma Government due to deliver its Budget for the next fiscal year on Tuesday.

Residents are hoping for some generous housing initiatives, but some believe it’s up to local government to lead the charge.

The Northern Rivers Social Development Council says irrespective of Tuesday’s budget, the State and Commonwealth Governments already have programs designed to assist local affordable housing initiatives.

According to the Council’s Chief Executive, Tony Davies, housing affordability in towns across the North Coast, especially Byron Bay, Ballina and Lismore, has reached crisis point.

Mr Davies said the situation in towns across the North Coast is as bad as it is in the cities.”Working families are finding it hard to stay in the region because of the cost of rent,” he said.

According to recent HIA figures, more than half of all households in the Lismore region are in housing stress, and the situation on the coast is worse. Recent figures show 62 per cent of Byron Bay residents are experiencing rental or mortgage stress.Housing stress occurs when more than 30 per cent of gross household income is spent on rent or housing.

“You have to remember that while housing can be cheaper in towns like Lismore or Casino than it is in the metropolitan areas, our incomes are much lower,” he said.The average income for people living in the on the North Coast is around two-thirds of the national average.

In the meantime, while incomes stay low, housing costs continue to rise.”In the Clarence Valley region, housing costs have increased by 7 per cent over the last 12 months,” Mr. Davies said.

He congratulated the Clarence Valley Council for its decision to partner with North Coast Community Housing to establish an affordable housing development proposal.He said the state and federal governments have programs available to councils, and it’s up to them to reach out and grab them, to attract a slice of the assistance for the region.

“Councils need to act collectively to advocate to lobby Federal and State governments to ensure new money is flowing into our region,” he said.

He’s urging all councils and interested business and community agencies to consider how this regional response could be strengthened through collective effort.”Local governments are in the best position to fully understand the social and economic impacts of insufficient housing. They know what’s going on, and we’re calling on them to act as champions for the region in addressing this crisis.”