Cr John Stuchbery wants Albury Council to create its own homeless shelter

Cr Stuchbery, who is retiring after one term on council, has submitted a notice of motion to tonight's meeting in response to recent examples of homeless people sleeping at the city's wood fired oven facility in Hovell Tree Park.

"Everyone got upset with homeless people spoiling the pizza oven area, but what about the actual homeless people?" he said.

"Maybe we should be looking after them rather than looking after people wanting to cook a pizza.

"Our homeless strategy is all about prevention and not about actually dealing with people who are homeless.

"Rather than spending $750,000 on a pizza oven we should be looking at spending $750,000 on a shelter."

In a background note from council chief executive Frank Zaknich accompanying Cr Stuchebery's notice of motion, more than 200 people in Albury and surrounding areas were experiencing or recently experienced, a housing related crisis.

This includes three to five people rough sleeping in Albury.

It endorsed a prevention of homelessness strategy two years ago with Yes Unlimited being the lead local agency.

"The aim of the strategy is to work with service providers and the community collaboratively to reduce homelessness," Mr Zaknich said.

"In addition to the strategy, (Albury Council) has homelessness protocols to guide our team members when someone who is homeless seeks assistance, or a member of the public seeks information regarding someone who is homeless.

"Beyond the local need to provide expanded and more appropriate crisis accommodation for women and children escaping domestic and family violence, YES Unlimited is not supportive of the creation of additional temporary accommodation per se, as this is not a long term solution, and they would rather focus on the development of affordable housing options to reduce homelessness."

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