Byron Community Centre Provides Wet Weather Shelter for Rough Sleepers
Ianna Murray, Community Worker
By Kate Love
A Dry and Safe Night’s Sleep for the Homeless
When the rain has been pouring down in the Byron Shire there are some locals who don’t have a warm and dry place to bed down.
The Byron Community Centre has been holding its Wet Weather Shelter at the Uniting Church every night since Saturday 12 December due to the onset of extreme wet weather. The project provides overnight emergency shelter for people who don’t have a roof over their heads.
The Severe Wet Weather Shelter has been running successfully over the last four nights to help rough sleepers to escape the rain. People register in the afternoon and are then provided with bedding, a hot meal and drinks, dry clothing and basic material aid.
Emergency Shelter
Byron Community Centre Community Worker Ianna Murray is overseeing the operations of each shelter, which opens at 6pm and closes at 8am, with the support of trained community services staff, security and volunteers.
“Everyone is so appreciative even just to receive a hot cup of tea and have somewhere to charge their phone,” says Ianna.
The project aims to provide a safe and supportive solution for vulnerable community members who otherwise are being forced to shelter in shop alcoves or other private property. The project provides two separate shelters, one for women and one for men.
“It provides a dry and safe night’s sleep for vulnerable people who would otherwise be completely exposed to the elements,” explains Ianna.
Bookings for the shelter this week can be made between 2pm - 4pm at the Fletcher Street kitchen at the Byron Community Centre when there is significant prediction of rain.
“We check the weather prediction for the rain in the morning to see if it’s 30mls or above which is a requirement to run the project,” says Ianna.
A Hot Meal and Social Contact
The Severe Wet Weather Shelter project was established in 2018 and made possible through funding from various donors including Service NSW and Clubs NSW to help provide shelter to Byron’s homeless during extreme wet weather events. The project is only funded to provide 10 more nights of shelter and needs further support to continue to offer this vital service.
Byron has one of the highest rates of rough sleepers in NSW outside of Sydney and the project provides vulnerable community members with overnight shelter, a hot meal and social contact.
“These current extreme weather conditions have highlighted the need for a safe place where people can socialise; all the things which are not made readily accessible in our community at present,” adds Ianna.
For more information about the Severe Wet Weather Shelter Project and to donate please go here.