Eve Jeffery, guest editor
Though the days are warm, the nights are still very cold and will be for a couple of months to come.
For people sleeping rough, this is a really hard time of year and services for the homeless and needy are stretched to their limits.
The problem of homelessness is not getting any closer to being solved; in fact the opposite is the case and it’s difficult to accurately gather statistics because of the nature of homelessness.
The Northern Rivers and North Coast Community Housing’s Housing Needs Northern Rivers Housing Study 2018 says that beneath the brochure images of Byron Bay surfers and the alternative lifestyle of Nimbin lie some of the most challenging housing conditions.
The report says that local factors contributing to homelessness include the growing gap between rising housing costs and incomes, which is not unique to the Northern Rivers.
However, special local characteristics have accentuated the problem: Sea-change and tree-change migration has increased demand for well-located housing, often in the form of holiday homes that are only occupied for part of the year; economic prosperity and population growth over the border in southeast Queensland have made the Northern Rivers more attractive, accessible, and affordable to more people – these trends are accentuated by the long-overdue upgrade of the Pacific Highway – unfortunately significant investment in road infrastructure has far exceeded investment in community and social services.
Other issues are coastal resorts, which are a continuing mecca for backpackers, families, and grey nomads. This has led to a loss of caravan parks offering affordable longer-term accommodation, and the rise of the Airbnb and Stayz holiday-lets. Fast-rising property costs have not been met by a commensurate rise in incomes.
The highest household incomes are found in Ballina, Byron, Lismore, and Tweed council areas, though they are still generally 35 per cent lower than the NSW average.
Household income across in the more inland areas of Clarence Valley, Kyogle, and Lismore council areas has risen between 2011 and 2016 at a slower rate than the NSW average.
Nearly all areas in the Northern Rivers have some households on a very low income, defined as under $650 per week. The most challenged areas of inland Kyogle and Clarence Valley Council areas have up to 40 per cent of households on very low incomes, compared to an average of below 20 per cent across NSW.
The report says all Northern Rivers council areas have below the NSW average of higher earners, those with household incomes over $3,000 per week. Even in relatively prosperous Byron Shire fewer than 10 per cent of households are classed as higher earners, less than half the average in NSW low incomes.
Additionally poor intra-region transport, isolation, and limited supply of social and support services has led to many in the Northern Rivers facing many challenges.
There is a real concern that there is an erosion of community and connection when there’s just no room. Literally and figuratively, people to have the right to shelter.
For more information about how you can help, contact the Mullumbimby Neighbourhood Centre, the Byron Community Centre, the Salvos, or Vinnies.
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