Byron Shire Community Land Trust lodges plans for a group home at 66 The Saddle Rd, Brunswick Heads

A not-for-profit in the Byron Shire is aiming to help tackle the region’s growing homeless population and cut through soaring rental prices with a new initiative. Here’s what we know.

Byron Shire is home to the rich and famous and is one of the nation’s most expensive property markets. ​

A rural plot of land tucked away in the Byron Shire could be the beginning of a means to help tackle the region’s growing homelessness crisis.

Not-for-profit organisation Byron Shire Community Land Trust (BSCLT) has lodged a $1.7 million development application for a group home to house those in need.

The proposed site is 66 The Saddle Rd, about five minutes drive west of Brunswick Heads,.

Byron Shire has been facing a homelessness crisis, brought about by a complex mixture of factors, including soaring rental prices.

A recent street count of homelessness reveals there are now more people sleeping rough in the pricey hamlet of Byron Bay than in the City of Sydney.

Meanwhile, Byron Bay’s only homelessness service, Fletcher Street Cottage has been doing it tough and recently issued a desperate cry for funding.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon has described the situation as “outrageous” and said “the only people we should be bringing into the country are builders” to alleviate critical housing shortages.

Byron Shire Mayor Michael Lyon

Statistics released by Homelessness NSW highlight the tragedy unfolding in Byron – the celebrity hub where privilege and poverty meet the sea.

For the month of June, in the depths of winter, 300 people were counted as sleeping rough in the Byron Shire local government area – compared to 277 in Sydney City.

In response to the growing crisis, Creative Capital and The Northern Rivers Community Foundation established the BSCLT.

The site of the proposed development at 66 The Saddle Rd, Brunswick Heads.

Planning documents state: “The BSCLT is a not-for-profit organisation with the singular purpose of creating modest (though well-designed) rental accommodation.”

“All land donated to the BSCLT will be used to create rental accommodation that will never be sold,” the documents read.

“(And) all revenue created by the BSCLT will be used to fund the creation of more rental accommodation.”

The central aim, according to the developers, if for the organisation to provide a “scalable, self-perpetuation model”.

A sketch of what the group home could look like.

This Brunswick Heads group home is the first proposal put forward by the BSCLT.

It is specifically targeting the needs of vulnerable women and children in housing stress.

If approved, the Brunswick Heads group home would contain a shared kitchen, laundry, lounge room and living area.

There would also be five adult and two children’s bedrooms, with each bedroom having its own bathroom.

Byron Shire Council will determine the development application within the coming months.