It's Homelessness Week and Byron Shire Council is joining local services and community groups to advocate for more resources as well as to drive solutions to end homelessness in Byron Shire, starting with rough sleeping.
The NSW Government's 2025 Street Count found Byron Shire has the second highest number of people sleeping rough in the State and despite this, of the 355 public and community homes to be delivered in the Northern Rivers in the next two years, none are planned for the Byron Shire.
The theme for Homelessness Week this year is Homelessness Action Now!
"Homelessness and housing stress are critical issues for our community and solutions will take a whole of community approach," Anna Lockwood, Backbone Lead Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire, said.
"With co-funding from a philanthropic foundation, Council employs the Backbone team of the Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire, a community-led initiative with more than 30 members including the not-for-profit and community services sector," Ms Lockwood said.
"Our remit is to work together and share knowledge and resources that identify and address the root causes of homelessness and the housing crisis, so we can develop and advocate for solutions that work for our community.
"The Collaboration's focus right now is the 1000 Voices Project, where we are seeking 1000 local people to complete a survey which asks people in the Byron Shre to share their thoughts on homelessness and what they think can be done to solve it," Ms Lockwood said.
Council also employs two Public Space Liaison Officers who are in the field every day, speaking with and checking on rough sleepers, connecting them to services and help.
"My ask is that people in the Byron Shire take a moment out of their day this week and take action by completing our 1000 Voices survey or becoming a community researcher," Ms Lockwood said.
Information about how to get involved and take action against homelessness is on Council's website.
