Community members made homeless by recent NSW Reconstruction Authority evictions are camping outside the Labor MP’s office at 55 Carrington Street, Lismore, demanding permanent housing solutions rather than unstable Link2Home (7 days in a motel).
Organisers say this action responds directly to the housing crisis, policies that prioritise profit over people and the exacerbation of the government’s approach to flood buyback properties, where 800 plus liveable homes remain empty while people sleep rough.
‘When house prices have increased more than 1000 per cent in our lifetime while wages stagnated, young people like me, workers, families and children have been denied the basic security of a place to call home,’ said Chels Hood Withey, housing advocate from House You, who was recently evicted from Stuart Street, Mullumbimby.
‘In a country as wealthy as ours, no one should be sleeping rough. We have the solutions – it’s time for action, compassion and understanding to ensure everyone has housing.’
Chels Hood Withey says the campers include taxpayers, workers, and community members contributing to society, who are asking their local representatives and the Labor government to work with them, not against them.
‘Making people homeless during a housing crisis is state violence,’ says Bat, who was recently evicted from Lake Street, North Lismore. ‘This government has provided no solutions to the housing crisis, only enforced homelessness through evictions from functional homes.’
Requests of campers
- Rent caps to address the affordability crisis.
- Enough public housing so no one sleeps rough (end the waitlist).
- No empty homes while people are homeless.
- No demolition of liveable homes.
- Collaboration with community-led housing solutions.
Organisers say the camp highlights the cruelty of public servants making $350,000 a year (who are also landlords, and property owners themselves) criminalising homelessness and the absurdity of their policy that now leaves hundreds of buyback properties vacant and vulnerable to arson and anti-social behaviour.
They say the camp will remain until government provides permanent housing solutions rather than temporary accommodation that displaces people from their communities and support networks.
‘We need a system for people and planet, not for profit and privilege,’ said Chels Hood Withey. ‘Housing is a human right, and we won’t accept anything less than housing for all'”
Community members are invited to join the camp at 55 Carrington Street, Lismore.
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