"There's some days I wake up, and I'm not sure where I am."
Community Industry Group is p roud to release a short video revealing the reality of life for people experiencing homelessness in bushfire impacted areas across South E ast NSW.
" So much of the focus during and after the bushfires has been on people whose homes were destroyed, " said CEO of Community Indu stry Group, Nicky Sloan. " But this video raises awareness of those people who were not lucky enough to have a home before the fires, and who are finding it even more difficult to find a safe, secure and appropriate place to live now they are com peting with insurance companies for scar ce rental properties." " The NSW government has done an outstanding job of supporting people who are experiencing homelessness in temporary accommodation," said Ms Sloan. "And the extension of temporary accommodation beyond the usual 28 days per year has undoubtedly kept many vulnerable people safe during the COVID -19 pandemic. But many of these people are being housed in caravan parks and motels.
and as tourist season app roaches, their occupancy becomes more tenuous. " "The reality is that this area has a strong reliance on the tourist dollars, and business owners are going to require access to their properties to house the tourists who not only bring much -needed income to the accommodation providers, but who support a range of tourism -dependent businesses. Homeless people will once again be left in the cold. " Community Industry Group is incredibly grateful to the individuals who shared their stories in the video.
Their stories are vivid and powerful. People like Tony who is currently in temporary accommodation in Bermagui who tells us, "This is the seventh time I've moved in two years. There's some days I wake up, and I'm not sure where I am". Or Josh, who was laid off from his apprenticeship and from another job thanks to bushfires and COVID -19 who says services need to move a bit faster, "Because one night on the streets can change your life forever." "Our recent report South East NSW Bushfire Crisis - Impact, Response & Recovery identified a number of recommendations which would significantly imp rove outcomes for people like Tony and Josh," said Ms Sloan. "We urgently need the NSW government to invest an additiona l $5 million per year for 5 years ($25m) additional program funding for services which support communities in the bushfire impacted areas in South East NSW, including crisis accommodation and outreach services. This is a s mall investment for government.
but it will increase service availability, provide jobs for community service workers, and change the lives of vulnerable individuals, families and communities." The Homelessness in South East NSW video can be accessed here and an accompanying Fact Sheet here .
The South East NSW Bushfire Crisis - Impact, Response & Recovery Report is available here.
Community Industry Group would like to acknowledge the valuable help and support of the organisations and i ndividuals who participated in the production of this video.
• Caroline Long and Kylie Furnell from South East Women and Children Services (SEWACS) • Donna Davis from Mission Australia - Bega Valley Homelessness Support Service
And most importantly.
• Tony from Bermagui - with his dog, R uby • Josh from Pambula
