The Northern Rivers Times
August 11, 2022
14 NEWS
Homelessness Week shines light on locals doing it tough Homeless hub Fletcher Street Cottage in Byron Bay has had 1,963 visitors since opening on April 12th. Homelessness Week, on 1 - 7 August 2022, raises awareness of the impact of homelessness. The week is a time to reflect on the importance of housing as a solution and how we can make a difference as a community. “We need to have growing awareness in the community about the impacts of homelessness and the potential solutions,” says Jenny Ryan, Homelessness Projects Manager. In Australia, there are over 116,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night. The housing crisis before the floods in the Northern Rivers has now led to a housing catastrophe. With rough sleepers and those affected by the floods, Fletcher Street Cottage is inundated with people seeking help. “Fletcher Street Cottage plays a significant role as one response, offering basic relief opportunities,” says Jenny. “It is also a safe haven where people are welcomed and can connect with community support staff to meet their immediate needs.” Since opening,
Fletcher Street Cottage has provided 2,136 breakfasts, 619 showers and 337 laundry washes. Breakfast is prepared and served every weekday by Breakfast Coordinator Chris O’Neill and his team of 50 volunteers. The opportunity to have a meal, shower and do some washing gives people the dignity they deserve. Community Support Workers Dayna Suchoparek and Ianna Murray have provided 482 support appointments to locals in need. This includes 173 instances of emergency relief and 40 referrals, as well as advocacy, counselling and support. “We are fortunate in the Byron Shire to have a strong coordinated approach through our End Street Sleeping
Collaboration,” adds Jenny. “This also enables us to have co-located services, supporting easy access for visitors to broader supports.” Thanks to the support of generous donors, a third Community Support Worker Anna Jones has joined the team to help with increased demand. Omar Amin has also started at the cottage, replacing Ianna, who has worked tirelessly to build connections and support Byron’s most vulnerable. Homelessness is not ‘rooflessness’. Only seven percent of people in Australia without a home are sleeping rough. The majority of homelessness in Byron is hidden - people in crisis accommodation, rooming houses, insecure housing,
overcrowded dwellings or couchsurfing. “Byron Shire already had the highest level of homelessness outside of Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, then house prices doubled in the Northern Rivers over the last two years,” General Manager Louise O’Connell said. “On top of the recent flood disaster, this means a whole new demographic of people are now at risk of or experiencing homelessness. “At Byron Community Centre we have a long history of supporting our community’s most vulnerable, and Fletcher Street Cottage offers a one-stop-shop for help and referrals.” The theme for Homelessness Week this year is: ‘To end homelessness we need a plan’. Homelessness
is a complex issue with no single solution. It requires long-term collaboration across agencies, sectors and the community. Managed by the Byron Community Centre, Fletcher Street Cottage is solely funded by community donations and needs support to keep its vital services going. The cottage provides a solution to part of the plan to end homelessness, but increasing affordable housing across our region is critical. Give hope to the homeless and make a tax deductible donation to Fletcher Street Cottage: www. fletcherstreetcottage. com.au Fletcher Street Cottage provides support and services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It is a welcoming, safe and respectful place for rough sleepers to come and enjoy a meal, have a shower and do laundry, find connections and access broader support. Open from Monday to Friday, with a breakfast service from 7am to 9am, access to showers and laundry from 7am to 12pm, additional office support from 9am - 12pm, and appointments available with Community Workers and visiting services.
New Board Directors for Destination North Coast Destination North Coast welcomes two new directors to our Board - Julie Stewart (Airport Manager, Ballina Byron Gateway Airport) and Margaret Shannon (General Manager, Tiona Holiday Park). We also sincerely thank Donna Carrier one of our inaugural Board Members who is stepping down after five years as part of the Destination Networks that replaced the previous Regional Tourism Organisation of which Donna was also a Board member. Donna is a superstar operator for the North Coast of NSW, as the owner operator of the multi awarded winning and highly respected “Bent on Food” café and catering in Wingham on the Mid North Coast. Donna is embarking on a new food and beverage venture housed with the newly renovated Taree Rowing Club, a spectacular location and one in which we are sure Donna will shine for the local community and visitors alike. DNC Chair Cameron Arnold said “It has been an absolute pleasure to have worked alongside Donna on both regional boards, as a voice for the restaurant & catering industry as well as for events across the region, her experience, knowledge, local intel and connections has been monumental for the success of the visitor economy across the North Coast.”
Who will look after your pets if you can’t? Rusty’s owners have made sure he’ll be looked after if they no longer can. Milo, Otis, Max and Charlie. They’re the four-legged friends you can’t live without, but who will look after your pets when you no longer can? This International Cat Day (8 August) and International Dog Day (26 August) is a reminder to all pet
owners to make sure their pets are taken care of in a Will. As the number one Will-maker in NSW, NSW Trustee & Guardian has seen a rising trend among pet owners making provisions for their pawed-pals in their Wills. “A decade ago, NSW Trustee & Guardian only wrote a handful of Wills that included clauses
for pets. Now we’re writing roughly 600 Wills a year that include pets,” said NSW Trustee & Guardian Senior Solicitor, Natalie Darcy. “Pets have really become part of the family, so it makes sense that people want to include them in their Wills.” While pets are regarded as property under NSW law, they cannot inherit property
or money in a Will, so Ms Darcy highly recommends pet owners seek guidance from a professional will-maker. “Pets can be provided for in a number of ways in a Will, including gifting the pet to a trusted family member or friend along with a sum of money to help cover their expenses, a pet legacy program with an animal charity, or setting up a trust fund”,
said Ms Darcy. Ms Darcy advises that it’s important to have a good idea of your pet’s life expectancy, and up-keep costs like food, insurance, and vet bills. “You also need to make sure that if you’re leaving your pet to someone that they are willing and able to fulfil their duties. After all, an animal cannot apply to a court if their carer fails to fulfil their duties,”
said Ms Darcy. The state government agency also provides free pet emergency cards for pet owners to carry in their wallet. “The card holds information about you, your emergency contacts and your pet. If you can’t return home, this card can alert those around you that your pet needs care,” said Ms Darcy.
