A REVIEW of planning legislation could allow community organisations to supply emergency accommodation for the homeless, Tweed MP Geoff Provest said.

Speaking at the opening of the On Track Community Housing office in South Tweed yesterday, Mr Provest said an anomaly in planning legislation was creating a roadblock for community organisations wanting to provide emergency accommodation.

He said planning laws stated any person renting a premise in the South Tweed industrial estate could legally apply to open a brothel, but could not legally apply to provide emergency accommodation.

“It is just ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous,” Mr Provest said.

He said reviews of planning legislation would hopefully make it easier for community groups to supply accommodation for the homeless and praised the North Coast Accommodation Project for placing eight people in long-term housing in the past four weeks.

The NCAP service allows On Track Community Programs to assist homeless people or those at risk of homelessness in conjunction with Community Housing, funded by Housing NSW and Community Services.

“We continue to lobby for more funding, but the sad reality at the end of the day is there simply isn't enough for everyone and we need to find a way to make that funding work in the most effective way,” Mr Provest said.

“That is a tribute to On Track – they have stretched that rubber band in every possible way to help a huge amount of people.”

An On Track client, who introduced herself as Anita, was also invited to share her story.

She said On Track had provided her and her son with furniture, food and housing at a time when she had just $23 to her name, allowing her to get her life back on track.

On Track chairman Ken Lee said stories like Anita's made it all worthwhile and he was looking forward to exciting times ahead.