About Us

Our Story

Housing Matters Action Group is founded on the belief that grassroots community approaches can create positive change and that everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable home.

Originally formed in 2017 when representatives from the Bellingen Neighbourhood Centre, Lifetime Connect, local councillors and interested community members came together to discuss homelessness and the local housing crisis.

The group recognised the many drivers in the housing system contributing to the local housing crisis and while some levers remain the responsibility of government, waiting for an external solution was not going to bring about the action needed in the community to remain a diverse and inclusive place to live. The group decided to form a citizen’s action group and host a forum focused on local solutions.

Support Our Work

Housing Matters Action Group is a registered charity and not-for-profit organisation.

We rely on donations, grant funding and our amazing volunteers to do this important work. We have partnered with the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR), which enables us to offer donors tax-deductible donations.

All donations will be used to support the Housing Matters Hub’s work, including supporting residents facing homelessness and housing insecurity to access local options. Use the link below to make an online tax-deductible donation now or download our donation form.

If you would like to talk to us about a donation or supporting our work in another way, then please contact us.

Become a Member

HMAG is a community-driven organisation with 300 members and a core group of 30 active volunteers who really make things happen. Our membership is a mix of interested community members, representatives from relevant government and non-government organisations and interested people with expertise from across the housing system.

Membership of the organisation cost $2 upfront and $1 annually. Becoming a member means that you are adding your voice to this important conversation and helping to drive the kind of change you want to see in your local housing system. Too often, local residents feel powerless to fix the housing crisis. We believe that local communities can unlock latent resources and networks to meet their unmet housing needs: real people can create real local solutions. This is long term change that won’t happen overnight, but together we can make a difference.

Our members and volunteers are also the driving force behind our Working Groups and Events. Their commitment and dedication speak to the care we have for each other as a community and our ability to make change when we work together. You are welcome to join us in making a difference or download our membership form.