Coffs Harbour homeless crisis as housing issues grip Bellingen, Nambucca

It’s known for its unbroken mountain ranges and pristine beaches but the NSW Mid North Coast is earning a more sinister reputation for a growing crisis on its doorstep.

The contrast between the multimillion-dollar pristine houses of Coffs Harbours Sapphire Beach and the shocking environs of “tent city,” which more and more of the region’s growing number of homeless call home, is so stark it’s disorientating.

So potent is the charm of the NSW Mid North Coast spot where the mountains meet the sea that 5.4 million tourists visit the region each year generating, pre-Covid, just over $420 million in revenue.

Yet Coffs and the wealthy heritage suburbs of Bellingen and Nambucca are earning a more sinister distinction: homelessness peaked 11 per cent last year with 1494 found to be sleeping rough in cars, tents and doorways due to a “crisis” in housing.

Josh Simmonds and his partner Evie have been living in what’s become known as Tent City behind the Coffs Harbour Neighbourhood Centre for six months after Covid destroyed their employment. Picture: Toby Zerna

High rental costs and low housing stock has created a housing crisis in the mid north coast city of Coffs Harbour with many people unable to get into permanent housing. Picture: Toby Zerna

“After a while you crave a door that can close when you come home from work,” said housekeeper Evie, 34, who has lived for six months in the Saint Vincent de Paul Society “tent city” with her partner Josh Simmonds, 36, a fruit picker.

“One night someone pulled a knife on me in the tent, Josh jumped up and he ran off.”

“Our work dried up so we couldn’t rent but now we’ve got $380-rent money between us a week. But we’re competing with 30-40 applicants at each viewing, it‘s disheartening,” she said.

A child’s teddy bear is left on the soggy ground in Tent City when a family left to seek shelter on a friend’s couch after the skies opened. Picture: Toby Zerna

Expensive homes in the suburb of Korora look down on the underbelly of Coffs Harbour. Picture: Toby Zerna

The three-year-old service known as Pete’s Place provides laundry, bathroom and shower services to the disadvantaged and homeless.

Where just 15 people a day came when it first opened three years ago, that figure has ballooned to 70 individuals who head to Pete’s to eat, shower and use the legal and mental health facilities.

Nearby, hidden in Coffs Central Shopping Centre’s multistorey car park, retired butcher David Willcox, 66, strains an ear to tune his transistor radio and settles on the 10pm news, reclined in his silver Nissan Tilda.

Nellie Bennett and partner Brett McKay do their washing at Pete’s Place. Picture: Toby Zerna

Retiree butcher David Willcox adjusts the antenna of his transistor radio before going to sleep in his Nissan Tilda parked in Coffs Central Shopping Centre multistorey car park. Picture: Toby Zerna

“You don’t get much sleep; the cars screech up and down but the rain isn’t drumming on the car roof,” he says cheerily, adjusting the antenna.

David, 66, left Bomaderry 17 months ago for Coffs Harbour to buy a place near his brother after their mother died.

“I sold my home for $520,000, I’ve got money, but I keep getting outbid at auctions and house prices have risen $60,000 since I arrived.

“It’s lonely sleeping behind the wheel of a car but I can lock the door.”

A combination of high rental costs and low stock on the market has created a housing crisis on the NSW Mid North Coast with many homeless struggling to get permanent housing. Picture: Toby Zerna

Frontline organisations say the homelessness figures represent a snapshot of reality with Mission Australia describing “a crisis point” in housing which has resulted in a rise in couch surfers, long-term campers and the working homeless.

The Mid Coast Tenants Advice & Advocacy Service recorded a 95 per cent hike in people with paid employment or business income on the Mid North Coast calling for help in the year ending January 2022. “I‘ve seen an increase in desperation and couch surfing,” said service team leader Emma McGuire.

Queues for food are daily at The Uniting Church soup kitchen where a hot meals for the homeless and vulnerable are handed out. Picture: Toby Zerna

New teacher Sarah, 25, drove her Ford Transit van from Melbourne to a showground in Bellingen in December, thinking she had ample time to secure a private rental before starting work on February 1.

She’s since applied for 20 rentals.

“I can’t believe I’m homeless, it’s embarrassing,” said Sarah, who asked not to give her family name.

“I haven’t met the (students’) parents yet and I’m worried the children will find out I live on a showground.”

Homelessness advocate Dean Evers and son Jimmy have been given notice to move out and are struggling to find another rental in Boambee despite 16 applications. Picture: Toby Zerna

Homelessness advocate Dean Evers, whose charity Hope for the Homeless has helped thousands off the streets in six years, is facing life on the streets himself after he was served a 90-day termination notice from his landlord. A NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) hearing will rule on February 1 whether to extend the January 5 deadline to quit his Boambee East home.

“We’ve had at least 16 knock-backs (rentals); you just get a reply back saying you‘re unsuccessful,” Mr Evers, 61, said.

“I pay $550 for a four-bed for me and my 12-year-old Jimmy. Now I‘m looking at up to $900 a week. I’m currently using my super to top up my rent to live.”

Former Commonwealth bank teller Steve Peers 57 is among those reduced to living out of a vehicle. Picture: Toby Zerna

Nearby, in a car park by Coffs Jetty Foreshore by the town’s main beach, Steve Peers, 57, is waking up in his black Subaru beside a line-up of vans parked by sex workers and clandestine lovers vying for a hidden spot to avoid a fine from a ranger.

A breakdown during his 13-year marriage led to him losing his job as a Commonwealth bank teller several years ago and his social housing unit in 2019. He now collects $950 a fortnight’s disability pension.

“Sometimes I go weeks not speaking to anyone, you part ways easily with other homeless people because you’re not fixed neighbours,” he said.

“I‘ve tried rentals. But I never hear back. Three years it’s been like this.”