Martelle Geurts, General Manager of Housing and Homelessness at Social Futures, spoke at the 7th National Housing and Homelessness Forum in Sydney, which brought together more than 300 delegates, 45 speakers and 50 sessions over four days. Ms Geurts joined a conference stream focused on prioritising homelessness solutions that foster long-term stability and resilience. Her presentation, Supporting a Path Back into Permanent Housing Through Temporary Accommodation Innovation, explored evolving ways to help people at risk of or experiencing homelessness transition to stable long-term housing.
A senior leader from Social Futures represented the Northern Rivers at a major national housing and homelessness forum in Sydney during May.
Martelle Geurts, General Manager of Housing and Homelessness at Social Futures, spoke at the 7th National Housing and Homelessness Forum, which brought together more than 300 delegates, 45 speakers and 50 sessions over four days.
Ms Geurts joined a conference stream focused on prioritising homelessness solutions that foster long-term stability and resilience.
Her presentation, Supporting a Path Back into Permanent Housing Through Temporary Accommodation Innovation, explored evolving ways to help people at risk of or experiencing homelessness transition to stable long-term housing.
“With housing pressures continuing to grow in regional communities, we need to keep innovating—temporary accommodation should not just be a stopgap, but a supported step toward lasting stability,” said Ms Geurts.
With Social Futures head office based in Lismore and the Housing and Homelessness teams active across seven local government areas in the Northern Rivers, Ms Geurts’ insights are grounded in the real challenges regional communities face—including some of the highest rates of rough sleeping in the state.
In FY2024–25, Social Futures has so far helped house 550 people through its Specialist Homelessness Services—either by helping them sustain their tenancy or supporting them into permanent housing, and a further 453 were supported into temporary accommodation.
Earlier this year, Social Futures opened the Northern Rivers’ largest supported temporary accommodation site in the Tweed Shire, offering onsite wraparound supports that help participants improve wellbeing, develop skills, and build capacity for independent living.
“The forum was an opportunity to share what we’ve learned locally, and to hear from others doing important work across the country—it’s encouraging to see collaboration remain a strong focus,” said Ms Geurts.
Those experiencing homelessness and in need of emergency accommodation should contact Link2home, a phone line available 24 hours a day on 1800 152 152.
People at risk of or experiencing homelessness are also encouraged to contact Social Futures on 1800 719 625 as a range of support services are available in addition to seeking accommodation via Link2home.
