Emergency house residents get a reprieve

Hans Lovejoy

A proposal to evict three residents in emergency housing for extensive renovations has been delayed while the responsible governing bodies talk it out. And meanwhile, Byron Shire Council will ‘receive a report on the scope of urgent and immediate work required.’

Georgie Jeston from Byron Emergency Accommodation Project Inc (BEAP) told Echonetdaily, ‘Our organisation is greatly relieved that we are no longer in the position of having to relocate our residents within four weeks.

‘The motion [at last Thursday’s council meeting] from Cr Paul Spooner creates an opening for all of us to come together and find solutions to what is a community problem, and we appreciate the Councillors’ unanimous support for the motion.

‘Getting all the stakeholders together potentially gives us the opportunity to address the ongoing problems we face. For example, statutory regulations apparently require the house in question to be listed as a boarding house, while in fact, it is like any other share house in the shire. Because of the listing, the extent of works proposed is beyond what our residents require. They need to be able to live with safety and dignity, but don’t need the five-star proposal currently put forward.

‘We hope to address the ongoing stress we face with the risk of losing this house every five years, the irony that this occurs to an essential service that addresses homelessness is not lost on us. As winter settles in, BEAP gratefully accepts donations of furnishings and household items that can be used in our various houses and the refuge. We are a registered charity and financial donations are tax deductible.

‘This enables us to focus on the reason BEAP exists, to provide a scaffolding that supports individuals and families to regain their place in the community and live with dignity.’

For more information phone 6685 8477.