Ending rough sleeping is no small challenge for Byron Shire and the Northern Rivers but that is the aim of the Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration and the release of the 1,000 Voices Byron Shire report just released.
The ‘What we Heard’ report involved around 30 organisations and more than 700 community members, providing insight into local homelessness impacts and the need for systemic change.
This is part of the regional effort ‘Northern Rivers Zero’ to end rough sleeping in the Northern Rivers by 2034 by making it rare, brief and non-recurring.
Urgent calls for change
Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire Co-Chair Dr Elizabeth Settles said the 1,000 Voices report’s findings confirm that homelessness is widely understood as a complex and systemic issue, not an individual failing.
‘Many, clearly see that homelessness is driven by factors like housing affordability, cost of living pressures and broader social factors like domestic and family violence and mental health,’ Dr Settles said.
‘Many recognise that homelessness is not about individual choices, it’s about systems that aren’t working for everyone. They see people falling through the cracks and they want bold action to improve housing, services, awareness, and policy reform.’
The 1,000 Voices report, summary findings and Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Shared Agenda for Change are available at: www.byron.nsw.gov.au/1000-voices or at the Council chambers, 70 Station Street, Mullumbimby.
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