Byron Shire's 1000 Voices 'What we heard' report was released today revealing the perspectives and experiences of more than 700 community members in the clearest picture yet of local homelessness impacts and urgent calls for change.
Key findings show that 80 percent of respondents regularly see people sleeping rough in public spaces, reflecting the housing stress and hardship experienced across the Byron Shire.
Findings also show homelessness is not only highly visible, but deeply felt, with 31 percent of respondents expressing distress, feelings of sadness, fear and helplessness in response to homelessness.
At the same time, more than half of respondents (53 percent) see a role for themselves in contributing to solutions, highlighting strong community willingness to act.
"I want to acknowledge the Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire for leading the 1000 Voices initiative which brought together so many voices, including people with lived experience of homelessness, to build a shared understanding of local issues and solutions," Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye said.
"Homelessness is not hidden here; people are seeing it every day, and it affects the whole of Byron Shire. It's driving an urgent call from our community for more housing, better services, greater compassion and coordinated action. People want to be part of the solution," the Mayor said.
Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire Co-Chair Dr Elizabeth Settles said the findings confirm that homelessness is widely understood as a complex and systemic issue, not an individual failing.
"Many clearly see that homelessness is driven by factors like housing affordability, cost of living pressures and broader social factors like domestic and family violence and mental health," Dr Settles said.
"Many recognise that homelessness is not about individual choices, it's about systems that aren't working for everyone. They see people falling through the cracks and they want bold action to improve housing, services, awareness, and policy reform," she said.
Nearly half of respondents (48 percent) identified housing as critical to ending homelessness, with 30 percent calling for more affordable, social and long-term housing options.
Collaboration Co-Chair and Lived Experience Homelessness Consultant Gary Shallala-Hudson said the report shows the depth of community connection to the issue.
"Sixty-one percent of respondents said they or someone they know had experienced homelessness and one in five shared their own experience, highlighting instability, stigma and impacts on wellbeing.
"From my own experiences, especially from the floods, it is clear that the best solutions are locally based and are guided by people with lived experience. The survey results show there is real enthusiasm for this in the community," Mr Shallala-Hudson said.
The findings have informed the next phase of the Collaboration's work, including a Shared Agenda for Change which sets out the priorities and solutions that will be tested through four Action Groups driving coordinated, system-level change.
"The Collaboration's Lived Experience Consultants have been central at every step, because ending homelessness takes all of us working together. We've worked alongside others to explore the findings, identify priorities and practical actions, and we'll continue guiding this work as members of the Collaboration's Local Leaders Group and Action Groups," Mr Shallala-Hudson said.
The Collaboration's priorities, shaped directly by 1000 Voices input, include:
- Creating more safe, secure and affordable housing options
- Strengthening person-centred and trauma-informed supports and services
- Increasing community awareness and understanding and reducing stigma
- Advocating for bold leadership and long-term reform across all levels of government
Mayor Ndiaye said the report provides a clear mandate for action.
"The message from our community is clear - homelessness is a shared responsibility, and change is possible," she said.
"This report gives us both the evidence and the direction we need to move forward together."
The 1000 Voices report, summary findings and Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Shared Agenda for Change are available at:
www.byron.nsw.gov.au/1000-voices
Hard copies are available at Council's Mullumbimby office at 70 Station Street.
About the Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire
The Collaboration brings together community, services, government, grassroots organisations and people with lived experience to work collectively toward ending homelessness in Byron Shire, starting with rough sleeping by 2034. Its members share a commitment to addressing the root causes of homelessness through coordinated, community-led action.
Key findings from the 1000 Voices report include:
- 80% of respondents reported seeing people experiencing homelessness in public spaces
- 61% of respondents said they or someone they know had experienced homelessness
- 53% see a role for themselves in contributing to solutions
- 48% identified access to housing as critical to ending homelessness
- 46% saw lack of government intervention as a barrier
- 31% identified funding as the most important enabler of change
- 29% share a clear vision for systemic change grounded in dignity, well-being and belonging
- 21% shared lived or living experience of homelessness
- 18% highlighted "invisible homelessness", including couch surfing and unsafe housing
- Strong recognition that homelessness is driven by systemic factors, not individual failure
- Local services are seen as essential but under significant strain, with calls for better resourcing
- Strong support for greater compassion, understanding and community awareness
- Calls for better coordination across services, government, and community
- Desire for solutions shaped by lived experience and First Nations perspectives.
