Safety. Family. Warmth. A place where you can be yourself. These were the common responses given by people when recently asked what home meant to them? Without a doubt, a place to call home is important in the sense of safety and wellbeing for people. Sadly not everyone has such comfort and security.
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Australian Community Media journalists from the South Coast Register, Milton-Ulladulla Times and Batemans Bay Post will shine a spotlight on housing affordability and homeless problems on the South Coast. Under the campaign tag-line 'Home Truths' we will tackle the issue from all angles - what the problems are, what is needed in the short term, the long-term plans to overcome the problem, what is available, what is not, how this crisis impacts everyone and more.
What we have learnt so far is that no-one is immune to this crisis. Soaring house prices, rental prices and even availability of properties for sale or rent have become a common theme across most communities in recent years. It has become a dire situation on the South Coast and it is clear that this has a significant impact on many people trying to achieve a basic right - a home. It could happen to anyone.
Those working closely to support the homeless across the South Coast struggle to put an exact figure on how many people are without a home. However, it is estimated to be more than 1000 people across the Shoalhaven and Eurobodalla. This includes people living in makeshift shelters or couch surfing.
Some are people who lost their homes and are still displaced more than two years after the Black Summer bushfires. Some are people, including children, who have escaped violent domestic situations. Others have fallen on hard times, beaten down and struggling to turn their circumstances around. And then there are those who simply cannot find affordable accommodation - something that fits within their budget. The impact of recent flooding is expected to further add to the homeless picture across much of the east coast of Australia.
Could you imagine not having anywhere to sleep or get anything to eat? No shelter, no safety, no protection from the elements - nothing. Where would you even go for a shower? It's devastating and demoralising for those in the situation. But no-one is immune to the impacts of the current housing affordability and homelessness crisis.
Share your story at editor@southcoastregister.com.au.
