Homelessness in Cairns: Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Wheels of Wellness new proposal

Pop-up accommodation in carparks and empty buildings could form part of a radical new plan to combat homelessness and anti-social behaviour in the Cairns CBD.

POP-UP night-time accommodation could form part of a new plan to combat anti-social behaviour in the CBD.

Cairns Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Wheels of Wellness (WOW) met with businesses owners and managers, Cairns Regional Council, and several non-for-profit groups on Monday to pitch a new initiative which will imitate the Beddown initiative in Brisbane.

The successful Beddown program aims to take spaces that are commonly left empty at night, including carparks and unused buildings, repurposing them into pop-up accommodation for homeless people.

WOW and The Bresnahan Footprint Foundation fronted the cost of flying founder of Beddown Norm McGillivray, to Cairns to discuss the feasibility of a similar venture in the Far North.

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WOW chief executive officer Yolonde Entsch said there is huge demand within the community for an initiative such as this.

“We see up to 80 people a day, most of whom are sleeping rough in and around the CBD, and what they’re telling us is, they desperately want a safe place to sleep,” she said.

“That is the reason why we invited Norm from Beddown to come up, because he has successfully activated spaces in Brisbane, and so we know that this model works.”

Cairns Chamber of Commerce CEO Patricia O’Neill said the chamber was willing to spearhead the project to help CBD business owners affected by anti-social behaviour, and re-establish the brand and reputation of the city.

“The Cairns Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in our region,” she said.

“Due to the ever increasing number of homeless individuals and families in our CBD and beyond, the Cairns Chamber will be working along with WOW, another NFP organisation, to spearhead a project that will endeavour to locate a safe place for the genuinely homeless.

Cairns Chamber of Commerce CEO Patricia O'Neill.

“The lack of housing coupled with the increased cost of living is resulting in more and more people finding their home in the doorways and alleyways of our business community.”

Despite several business managers including managing director of CBRE Cairns Danny Betros, concerned this proposal won’t resolve issues including drunkenness and voluntary homelessness, Ms O’Neill says it is a crucial first step.

“The chamber understands there is a bigger issue at play, but we can’t deal with it all at once, but this is a start,” she said.

This proposal comes one month after Cairns regional Council announced a new pilot plan to end a host of anti-social behaviour in the CBD, including the introduction of “wet zones”.

Originally published as Homelessness in Cairns: Cairns Chamber of Commerce and Wheels of Wellness new proposal