A services hub for people experiencing homelessness located in Byron Bay’s CBD and run by the Byron Community Centre has been given a longer tenure by Byron Shire Council.
Councillors adopted a motion at the June 12 meeting which will see the Fletcher Street Cottage license extended for a further 15 years, with an exit clause of ten years. The current license was set to expire in May 2026.
Louise O’Connell, the General Manager of Fletcher Street Cottage, and Bruce Clarke, Chair of the Byron Community Centre, spoke at the Council meeting during public access to support the motion.
Ms O’Connell said, ‘Our capacity to raise funds needed to support our community depends heavily on the security of our tenure. Philanthropic and government funders alike need long-term certainty before they commit, and a full 10-year plus license sends a clear message that this council backs a sustained response to homelessness. With certainty, we plan to expand our services by opening on Mondays, increasing access to meals, showers, laundry, case workers, and wrap-around support, and particularly supporting women.’
She also said that there was a 260 per cent increase in women accessing services at the cottage in the last six months of 2024.
Mr Clarke added that stable tenure is essential for retaining philanthropic donors in a highly competitive environment. ‘Our donors are often high net-worth individuals who are philanthropic and have opportunities to donate to other causes, including those outside the Byron Shire. ‘It’s very useful to have these donors donating in this area, supporting the 14 workers we employ’.
Byron Shire Mayor, Sarah Ndiaye, said in a media release. ‘Council is really proud to support Fletcher Street Cottage through a long-term licence as it provides such compassionate, practical and respectful support for some of our most vulnerable community members.’
‘The cottage has 14 staff and 110 volunteers who provide breakfast for up to 80 people, four days a week, along with laundry services, showers, and connection to other important services. The hub is co-located with other services including a GP, a vet, housing, Centrelink and hairdressing,’ Mayor Ndiaye said.
Damian Farrell, Manager of the Cottage, spoke with The Echo saying, ‘We’re really thankful and touched by the decision at Byron Shire Council to extend our license at Fletcher Street Cottage for a further ten years with an option of a five-year extension as decided by the Council.’
‘Their magnanimous decision sends a message not only to the Community Centre but to the people we support that there are people and organisations that genuinely care and want to help resolve the difficult plight that people experiencing homelessness can experience,’ said Farrell.
Recently, Fletcher Street Cottage introduced a weekly women-only afternoon, which will provide women with access to showers and meals, one-on-one support from community support workers, and onsite specialist services including a specialist domestic violence caseworker.
Maddi Powell, Assistant Manager and Community Support Worker at Fletcher Street Cottage, said in a media release, ‘Over the past three years, we have seen an increase in women arriving at Fletcher Street Cottage overwhelmed, isolated and unsure where to go.’
‘These women are often fleeing domestic and family violence, facing homelessness and do not have access to basic needs such as food, showers and safe shelter.’
‘A dedicated Women’s Afternoon creates a safe, welcoming space where they can be heard, supported and connected to the help they deserve.’
Farrell, Powell, and fellow staff hope that the renewed license will be helpful to secure much-needed funding, particularly for support programs dedicated to women.
Brad, who regularly accesses support, told The Echo that Fletcher Street Cottage has helped him and many others by providing essential services and a sense of community. ‘They provide a first point of contact for people who are doing it tough, and it may take years for people to recover from PTSD, drug addiction, domestic violence, before they are ready to support themselves.’ He added, ‘I think it’s awesome what the council are doing to support the homeless in a hands-on way by protecting the license.’
♦ James Burwood is an Echo intern
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