Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin says she welcomes the changes to the Back Home Grants that now allow residents of caravan parks, retirement villages and multiple tenancies to apply for support to restore properties.
“This is a much better refection of the reality on the ground for so many flood affected people.
“I strongly advocated for these changes because the original Back Home Grant didn’t take into account the various living arrangements of local people who were in need of support,” Ms Saffin said
Changes to the Back Home grant guidelines mean that:
- Permanent residents of caravan parks and retirement villages who own their dwellings, fixed or movable, can apply for the $20,000 owner-occupier grant;
- Tenants with a lease for a dwelling on the same land as another eligible dwelling can apply for a $5000 tenants grant; and
- Tenants with a lease agreement in a dwelling that has been divided into self-contained residences , but not through a formal strata or subdivision process, will be able to apply for the $5,000 tenants grant.
The Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said changes to the Back Home Grant guidelines will extend access to the payment in the LGAs of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Hawkesbury, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
For information visit www.nsw.gov.au/floods or call 13 77 88.
