Tweed Shire Council appears to be pretty dysfunctional when it comes to its homelessness policy.
Council’s recent draft policy received a submission from a local company based in Murwillumbah, suggesting that council encourage more granny flats in residential back yards.
This is already permitted by the state government and would greatly alleviate the housing crisis in the near future.
Why isn’t council promoting this? There are more than 500 people waiting for 1-2 bedroom social/community houses and the wait is now 15-20 years. Local housing providers are getting 80+ clients a day each (i.e. 400 inquiries per week). The situation is critically urgent.
Cr Carolyn Byrne wants to distinguish between homelessness and the housing crisis. Well duh, if you can’t find anywhere to rent you are homeless! Many people are living in tents, vans, sheds not caused by mental illness, domestic violence or addiction.
Cr Barry Longland wants Tweed to open its gates and welcome refugees. Now that’s a great solution to our housing crisis! Where are all those people going to live and who pays for their benefits?
If we can’t take care of our own local problems why would we want to take on another country’s problems? Don’t mean to sound heartless, but this is a call for a big dose of realism for refugee advocates.
Menkit Prince, Uki
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
