Mick Brosnan of the Social Justice Advocates (SJA) said the Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) rang him asking to use their crisis accommodation in Merimbula.

“FACS asked if they could use St James House; that’s the parlous state of housing in our shire. They are ringing me to ask if can use it over the holidays,” Mr Brosnan said.

“The previous week Link2Home (the state-wide telephone service for homelessness enquiries in NSW) phoned and asked for help to house a woman and two children fleeing domestic violence and wanted to use St James,” he added.

Meanwhile at South East Youth Accommodation Service (SEWACS) the lack of local youth crisis accommodation is a major problem. Kylie Furnell of SEWACS said the nearest youth crisis accommodation was in Moruya but there was nothing for over 18s.

“We need a youth refuge here. We drive around with tents in the back of our cars especially in summer and we put people in the bush because there are no camping spaces available,” she said.

The SJA has a number of caravans which it uses to help those in need of accommodation. Mr Brosnan said that over 600 nights of accommodation had been provided through the caravans.

The comments were in response to a notice of motion by councillor Cathy Griff on December 13, calling for council to facilitate affordable housing.

In his presentation Mr Brosnan made his frustration with council clear.

“This is fourth or fifth time of addressing this question. We’re a charity and Kylie works on the coalface. One of her young gentleman is working with us. He is in one of our units. That unit is giving him a chance to become stable, it’s a foot on the ground. I am here again to plug for land,” he said.

“We need action. We must support the youth but domestic violence is raising far more issues in the shire than ever before. The number of calls with women and children has increased exponentially this year. We have helped out with moving people often with whatever they can carry. We need land for short term transition accommodation.”

Mr Brosnan said that if land was available the SJA would try to raise money and be involved in building accommodation. However councillors agreed that accommodation would be better spread over the shire and integrated rather than all in one block.

Mr Brosnan said that to the best of his knowledge people without homes were sleeping in their cars.

“Yesterday we had a family who wanted a caravan.”

He said the SJA had assisted the woman and two children fleeing domestic violence to move to Canberra.

Councillors were united in wanting to do something about the situation and agreed that council should facilitate an affordable housing and youth refuge round table early in 2018, obtain information about public housing awaiting repairs and see whether there was any land that could be offered to a partner organisation such as the Sapphire Coast Tenancy Scheme.

In a statement to the News Weekly a FACS spokesperson said that NSW leads the nation in specialist and family violence initiatives with more than $350 million committed over four years to provide greater protection for women and children across NSW.

“In the Bega Valley Shire Specialist Homelessness Services are operated by Mission Australia and the South East Women and Children’s Services. These services deliver support to women and children who are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness. There are also two temporary accommodation providers and an additional six providers in the surrounding area that offer housing to women and children in need,” the spokesperson said.

“The Department of Family and Community Services (FACS) made contact with St James House last week in response to their request to be included as a registered accommodation provider on the Link2Home register,” the spokesperson added.

However Mr Brosnan said this was not correct and stood by his comments.

“They phoned me asking if they could have access to St James over the holidays,” Mr Brosnan said.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, you can contact the Domestic Violence Line on 1800 656 463.

People who are homeless or who may be at risk of homelessness can get help from the Link2home telephone service by calling 1800 152 152.