With 2024 Street Count data indicating a 16 per-cent increase in rough sleepers in Byron Shire, the NSW government has responded to say that the previously-announced Assertive Outreach team will receive $1.3m in funding for a year.
Mayor Michael Lyon said he was ‘gutted’ to find out Byron Shire had, for the second year in a row, topped the 2024 NSW Street Count with the most rough sleepers.
The NSW government announced the outreach service on October 12, 2023, yet there was scant information around the project at the time.
Tuesday’s media release from Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson says, ‘Homes NSW has partnered with local service providers Social Futures and Momentum Collective to form the new cross-agency team, delivering intensive case management and outreach patrols to drive down homelessness’.
Patrols started in March
‘The approach is based on the successful Tweed Assertive Outreach model, which employs staff with expertise in complex case management.
‘The group started the first of its regular Assertive Outreach patrols in the Byron [Shire] area in March 2024’.
Ms Jackson says it is in addition to $11m pegged for homelessness services in the region for 2023-24.
The Echo asked the office of Labor MP Rose Jackson why the funding was only for a year, considering the success of the Tweed program. A reply will be published if received.
Gosh, here I thought this might be another good news story – $1.3 million in funding for homelessness services in Byron Shire 🥳!
Alas no, there is no departing from the Echo chorus line – it’s only for a year‼️For starters? Maybe there needs to be a review of effectiveness, efficiency following this expenditure. How ridiculous! And how dare they not promise this sum in perpetuity!