1000 Voices Report Reveals Byron Shire Community Ready to Help Tackle Homelessness

A landmark community report has revealed the depth of concern surrounding homelessness in Byron Shire, with the overwhelming majority of residents witnessing rough sleeping firsthand and more than half saying they are willing to be part of the solution.

The 1000 Voices ‘What We Heard’ Report, released by Byron Shire Council and the Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire, draws on the perspectives of more than 700 community members and provides one of the most comprehensive snapshots yet of how homelessness is affecting the region. The findings paint a picture of a community deeply impacted by the housing crisis while demonstrating strong public support for coordinated, long-term action.

Among the report’s most striking findings is that 80 per cent of respondents regularly see people sleeping rough in public spaces, highlighting the visibility of homelessness throughout the shire. However, the report suggests the issue extends well beyond what is visible, with many respondents recognising the existence of “hidden homelessness”, including couch surfing, overcrowded housing and insecure accommodation.

The report also found homelessness is taking an emotional toll on the broader community. Nearly one-third of respondents reported feelings of sadness, distress, fear and helplessness when confronted with homelessness, reflecting growing concern about the social impacts of the region’s ongoing housing affordability crisis.

Despite these challenges, the survey revealed a strong willingness among residents to become involved in finding solutions. More than half of respondents—53 per cent—believe they have a role to play in addressing homelessness, demonstrating significant community support for collaborative action.

Byron Shire Mayor Sarah Ndiaye said the report reflects a community that not only recognises the seriousness of the issue but is calling for meaningful action.

The Mayor acknowledged the work of the Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire in leading the 1000 Voices initiative, which brought together community members, service providers and people with lived experience of homelessness to develop a shared understanding of both the challenges and potential solutions.

She said homelessness is highly visible throughout the shire and is generating an urgent call from residents for increased housing, improved services, greater compassion and better coordinated responses, adding that many people want to contribute to positive change.

The report indicates that many residents understand homelessness as a systemic issue rather than the result of individual choices.

Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire Co-Chair Dr Elizabeth Settles said respondents consistently identified housing affordability, cost-of-living pressures, domestic and family violence, mental health challenges and broader social issues as key drivers of homelessness.

Rather than placing blame on individuals, many participants recognised that existing systems are failing vulnerable people and called for stronger policy reform, improved housing supply and better coordinated support services.

Housing emerged as the community’s highest priority for ending homelessness.

Almost half of respondents identified access to housing as the most important factor, while 30 per cent specifically called for increased affordable, social and long-term housing options across the Byron Shire.

The report also highlights how widespread personal experience with homelessness has become.

Sixty-one per cent of respondents said either they or someone they know had experienced homelessness, while one in five participants shared their own lived experience. Their stories described housing instability, social stigma and significant impacts on health and wellbeing.

Collaboration Co-Chair and Lived Experience Homelessness Consultant Gary Shallala-Hudson said people with lived experience have played a central role throughout the project and will continue guiding future work through local leadership and action groups.

He said locally driven solutions informed by those who have experienced homelessness firsthand offer the best opportunity to create lasting change, particularly following events such as the 2022 floods that displaced many residents.

The findings will now underpin the Collaboration’s Shared Agenda for Change, which outlines four key priorities:

• Creating more safe, secure and affordable housing.
• Strengthening person-centred, trauma-informed support services.
• Increasing community awareness while reducing stigma.
• Advocating for stronger leadership and long-term reform across all levels of government.

Additional findings revealed that 46 per cent of respondents believe insufficient government intervention remains a major barrier to reducing homelessness, while 31 per cent identified funding as the most important enabler of meaningful change. The report also found strong support for greater collaboration between government agencies, community organisations and service providers, alongside solutions shaped by people with lived experience and First Nations perspectives.

The Ending Rough Sleeping Collaboration Byron Shire brings together government agencies, community organisations, service providers, grassroots groups and people with lived experience in a shared commitment to end rough sleeping in Byron Shire by 2034.

Mayor Ndiaye said the report provides both the evidence and the direction needed to move forward.

She said the message from the community is clear: homelessness is a shared responsibility, and meaningful change is possible when communities, governments and service providers work together.