Finding Solutions to the Housing Crisis
A new cabin dedicated to housing vulnerable community members on a temporary basis in the Byron Shire has officially opened, with the first occupant moving in this week.
Thanks to generous donors, the Byron Community Centre recently acquired the two-bedroom cabin from Byron Shire Council, with the sole purpose of providing a safe and welcoming space for those in need of makeshift accommodation. The cabin also aims to alleviate the stress that housing insecurity is having on a growing number of people in the area.
With the help of local interior designer Miranda Cummings, the beachside cabin has been furnished for those seeking support as they await more permanent housing in the area. Generously funded by the Vasudhara Foundation through the WildWomen Fund, First National Byron Bay, and several individual donors, the cabin will be available to people that community workers believe are most in need of salvation during tough times.
These people in need will be identified in a number of ways, including at community breakfasts, events for the homeless, and interaction with community workers at the newly reopened Fletcher Street Cottage.
With people being evicted or unable to afford rentals, the cabin is a small step towards wider housing solutions that are needed to address this crisis.