The not-for-profit organisation Social Futures is delivering a new support service for individuals and communities impacted by this year’s flooding events – Recovery Connect.

Social Futures CEO Tony Davies said that the aim of Recovery Connect is to link people to all the services they need.

“At Recovery Connect you will meet your Recovery Linker, who will listen to your story, understand and identify your needs then either directly assist you or connect you to the right services,” Mr Davies said.

“You won’t have to keep re-telling your story to numerous organisations and the Recovery Linker can help in a wide variety of areas.

“This includes being able to link you to specialist counselling, financial assistance, legal advice, available grants, business and employment supports, mental health services and much more.”

Mr Davies said the service, funded by the NSW Government, will support anyone navigating services and grant applications.

“We will act on your advice and of course outline all available choices. We can be your single point of contact to services in your dealings with Government and non-government agencies,” Mr Davies said. 

isMr Davies told The Lismore App that since the floods, another 3000-4000 more social or affordable homes are needed and that the available housing in the market was below the 1% state average, which was causing extra strain on those who needed a home.

He also said "What we need is the Government to start building, and to start building now. Even 100 homes built, will get 100 families out of trouble, and housed, which will protect the rich and diverse community that contributes to our unique Northern Rivers community.

"These are single mothers living in cars in Byron who do so, to ensure their children can continue to go to school here, or women who raised children here, contributed to the community, who have lost their homes, and can't re-access the rental market, so they are living in caravans, if they are lucky, or couch surfing, or in cars, for example.

"Our First Nations community whose land was stolen, whose sovereignty was never ceded, equally are marginalised and need more access to adequate housing and services."

Recovery Connect can offer help with:

• addressing physical needs (including accessing furniture, food, clothes, housing services) 
• accessing financial assistance (including applying for employment, business and housing grants), legal advice and financial counselling 
• accessing mental health and wellbeing support  
• dealing with practicalities such as replacing personal documents 
• addressing post-disaster recovery (planning, insurance, legal etc).  

Recovery Connect is available to anyone living in the local government areas of Lismore, Tweed Heads, Byron, and the Clarence Valley. You can contact Recovery Connect on 1800 719 625 or recoveryconnect@socialfutures.org.au.

Not-for-profit and government agencies can also refer participants to Recovery Connect.