Tiny-home pilot houses first family at Belmont North

newy.com.au – One family has moved into a tiny home on council-owned land at Belmont North, with another preparing to take up the adjoining dwelling under a Lake Macquarie affordable housing pilot.

The two self contained, transportable homes were bought by Hunter not-for-profit provider Allambi Care using money from the NSW government’s Homes NSW Homelessness Innovation Fund.

Lake Macquarie City Council provided the land, while Allambi Care manages the tenancies and support services for residents.

The small scale pilot could expand, with Allambi Care securing funding for another two bedroom tiny home and opening talks with the council about possible leasing arrangements. A site for the additional home has not been announced.

Allambi Care chief executive Simon Walsh said demand for affordable housing was outstripping supply across NSW.

“We are seeing more families and young people than ever with nowhere safe to live, and there simply isn’t enough affordable housing to meet the need,” Mr Walsh said.

He said access to suitable sites would be critical to making similar housing projects viable in the long term.

Lake Macquarie mayor Adam Shultz inspected one of the homes on Tuesday with Minister for the Hunter and Swansea MP Yasmin Catley and Mr Walsh.

Cr Shultz said the pilot would help the council assess whether underused public land could support more accommodation.

“This pilot was always intended to test a different housing model and learn from the experience,” he said.

“With people living in the homes, we can better understand the social and operational benefits and consider how projects like this might contribute to future housing solutions.”

The project follows the council’s April 2025 housing forum, which brought together more than 80 representatives from government, housing providers and community organisations.

The council is also investigating planning changes and opportunities to increase housing supply on other council-owned land, including sites at Booragul and Cardiff.

Ms Catley said the Belmont North project showed the practical result of state and local government working with the community sector.

“People want to know they can build a future here, raise their families here and afford to call this place home,” she said.