Fletcher Street Cottage forced to cut vital homeless services

Byron’s only homeless hub reduces services due to increase in demand and lack of government funding Byron Bay, NSW - Fletcher Street Cottage, Byron’s only homeless services hub, is regrettably faced with the necessity of reducing its services from fve days to four days a week, operating from Tuesday through Friday. This decision is due to the lack of government funding causing a signifcant funding shortfall, jeopardising the crucial support provided to our community’s most vulnerable.

Shocking statistics* reveal that Byron Shire has the largest cohort of rough sleepers in NSW, higher than the City of Sydney. Since its establishment in April 2022, Fletcher Street Cottage has been a beacon of hope for the Byron Shire community, with over 13,000 visits by locals seeking help.

The rapid increase in demand for homeless services underscores the critical role this facility plays in addressing the housing crisis, rising cost of living and rental stress experienced by many in the region.

Byron Community Centre General Manager Louise O’Connell emphasised the importance of addressing these issues, stating, “The Byron Shire is grappling with a severe affordable housing crisis, which is exacerbated with each passing day. We urgently seek government support and sustainable funding to continue assisting the growing number of people in need.”

Though the organisation successfully raised $400K through its Emergency Appeal, regular donors and generous support of the community, this funding falls $600K short of the required annual amount. This gap highlights the urgent need for ongoing support, ideally government funding to ensure the facility’s sustainability and uninterrupted services for its community.

Louise expressed the organisation’s commitment to its clients, explaining, “It’s devastating for all of us at Fletcher Street Cottage to cut services, but most of all for our service users. It is a lifeline for many people in our community who are doing it tough. There has never been a more critical time to provide support to individuals and families faced with housing insecurity.”

In response to the mounting challenges, Fletcher Street Cottage has announced that the reduced hours will commence from October 23, 2023. The facility currently has no ongoing state or federal government funding, and relies solely on grants and the generosity of donors and partners to assist Byron’s homeless and disadvantaged community.

People not only rely on access to everyday needs like free breakfast and showers, but also for counselling, emergency relief, housing assistance, medical care and legal aid, through Community Support Workers and visiting specialist services such as Centrelink and Social Futures.

Louise stressed the urgency of the situation, adding, “We are seeing people who have never come to Fletcher Street Cottage before. Families, young people and older women who have nowhere else to turn.”

The funding challenges at Fletcher Street Cottage highlight the need for immediate and sustained support from the government and the community to ensure the ongoing provision of essential services for those experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity in the Byron Shire.

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