Nico Jones on homelessness during Gold Coast cyclone

Rough sleepers on the Gold Coast have been overwhelmed by community generosity as they prepare for Tropical Cyclone Alfred to hit.

The wind is howling at more than 30km/h – sending monster swell crashing onto Surfers Paradise beach – the sound is almost deafening.

Yet just a few hundred metres away, nestled under a BBQ gazebo and tucked into his swag, Nico Jones is rugged up and seemingly sound asleep.

It isn’t much of a shelter from the swirling breeze and torrential rain of Tropical Cyclone Alfred – but it’s better than the alternative of sleeping on a park bench.

“It hasn’t been too bad – I think there are many more people doing it tougher than me,” Mr Jones said.

“I’ve had such generosity from people – very kind people.”

Gold Coast starting to feel the wrath of Cyclone Alfred, lurking just off the coast. Homeless man Nico Jones shelters from the weather in his swag at Surfers Paradise. Picture Glenn Hampson

Poor health and the city’s increasingly unaffordable rents drove the qualified chef onto the street only a few months ago. He could never have imagined this set back, let alone sleeping rough in the midst of a cyclone.

“I didn’t want to go to the evacuation centres because there are families and people that might need that space,” Mr James said.

“I’m tough – I have food and a bed to sleep on so I was going to just take shelter somewhere and hope it isn’t too bad.”

He had planned to see out the storm sleeping along The Esplanade until a random act of kindness from a complete stranger on Thursday night.

Mr Jones had planned to see out the storm sleeping along The Esplanade until a random act of kindness from a complete stranger. Picture Glenn Hampson

“This guy came up to me and asked what my plan was and where I was going,” he said.

“I said ‘well right here’ and he goes ‘no you’re not’ and he gave me a set of keys and pointed to a white van across the street.

“He told me that I can take my swag and go and shelter in there whenever I need for the next few days. I was in shock, he doesn’t know me and yet he trusted me with his keys. That really was a wonderful gesture.”

Originally published as Nico Jones on homelessness during Gold Coast cyclone