Fletcher Street Cottage Helps Drive 16% Drop in Rough Sleeping in Byron Shire
By Kate Love
New figures from the 2025 Street Count show a reduction in rough sleeping across Byron Shire, with local service Fletcher Street Cottage playing a critical role in delivering this progress. But continued support is vital to keep the momentum going.
The release of the 2025 NSW Street Count has revealed a welcome decline in rough sleeping in Byron Shire. While the region continues to report some of the highest homelessness figures in NSW, the results reflect the critical impact of frontline services like Fletcher Street Cottage, which has been working tirelessly to support vulnerable individuals and families, and connect them with housing pathways.
The annual Street Count captures a one-day snapshot of rough sleeping across Byron Shire, with trained volunteers including Fletcher Street Cottage staff conducting an observational survey in selected areas. On the day of this year’s count in February 2025, 291 people were recorded sleeping rough in Byron Shire which is a 16% decrease from 2024, but still second only to the City of Sydney.
“This decrease shows what’s possible when local services are properly supported,” said Damian Farrell, Manager. “Our Fletcher Street Cottage team is on the ground every day, helping people take the next step toward stability. But the need is growing - and without continued funding, we risk going backwards.”
While the Street Count is a valuable tool for tracking trends over time, it only captures the most visible forms of homelessness.
“It doesn’t reflect the many people sleeping in tents, couchsurfing or unstable accommodation, the hidden homelessness we see every day,” Damian said. “If we want to continue reducing rough sleeping, we need long-term, coordinated support at all levels.”
Fletcher Street Cottage was opened in April 2022 as a community-led response to the region’s escalating housing crisis. The service offers access to meals, showers, laundry facilities, healthcare, mental health support and housing referrals. Over the past three years, it has supported more than 35,000 visits, reflecting the scale of homelessness in Byron Shire. This includes a growing number of women, older residents and families with children.
The positive shift in Byron Shire is also linked to the NSW Government’s $2.3 million investment in Assertive Outreach teams on the North Coast, announced in May 2024. These teams work in partnership with services like Fletcher Street Cottage to provide personalised, on-the-ground support and help people transition into housing and access wraparound care.
“The partnership with Assertive Outreach has been a game changer,” said Maddi Powell, Assistant Manager. “It’s helped us connect more people with housing options and the support they need to move forward.” However, the demand for Fletcher Street Cottage services continues to outpace resources. Maddi adds, “If we want to keep driving down the impact of homelessness in our region, Fletcher Street Cottage needs continued support. This work is making a difference, but we can’t do it alone.”
Fletcher Street Cottage remains committed to ensuring homelessness in Byron Bay continues to decline, but continued, sustained funding is needed to keep doors open and services running.
Impact Story: Sarah’s Journey
Sarah*, a mother of two, arrived at Fletcher Street Cottage after escaping a violent relationship. With nowhere to go, she and her children had been sleeping in their car. The Fletcher Street Cottage team helped her access emergency accommodation, provided essential supplies and referred her to a family support service. Today, Sarah is in transitional housing, her children are back in school and she’s working part-time. “You have saved my life,” Sarah said. “Without Fletcher Street Cottage, I don’t know where we’d be.”
To learn more about Fletcher Street Cottage and to donate, visit fletcherstreetcottage.com.au.
Byron Community Centre is an independent not-for-profit organisation that provides essential services including meals, advocacy and counselling, as well as arts and social programs for the benefit of the whole community. For more information please see: www.byroncentre.com.au.
Fletcher Street Cottage provides support and services for people at risk of homelessness and those already sleeping rough. For more information please see: www.fletcherstreetcottage.com.au. Opening Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 7am - 12pm