The House You advocacy group, which has been campaigning for the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) to let the homeless live in buyback homes, has taken to camping outside of Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin's office.

The NSW Sheriff's Office executed the Supreme Court's ruling to remove squatters from NSWRA-owned buyback homes last Wednesday (Squatters moved out of NSWRA buyback houses today) before some attempted to move into other buyback homes in Lismore (Illegal squatters move into more NSWRA-owned homes).

“When house prices have increased more than 1000% in our lifetime while wages stagnated**, young people like me, workers, families and children have been denied the basic security of a place to call home.” says Chels Hood Withey, housing advocate from House You, who was recently removed from her squat on Stuart Street, Mullumbimby.

"In a country as wealthy as ours, no one should be sleeping rough. We have the solutions - it's time for action, compassion and understanding to ensure everyone has housing." 

"Making people homeless during a housing crisis is state violence," says Bat, who was recently removed from the squat at Lake Street, North Lismore. "This government has provided no solutions to the housing crisis, only enforced homelessness through evictions from functional homes."

The use of buyback homes for homeless accommodation has been at the centre of community debate for the last two and a half years following the 2022 big flood and the introduction of the Resilient Homes Program.

Social media groups invited the homeless to come to Lismore and the Northern Rivers for free housing in buyback properties, exacerbating the situation for political gain in a region that is trying to recover from Australia's most costly natural disaster.

The NSWRA have always stated that the properties were bought back because they are unsafe to occupy, with structural issues or potential hazardous material exposed due to flood damage, and the fact they are the most at-risk houses for current and future floods. Those claims have been disregarded by squatters.

"There should be no empty homes while people are homeless. As an immediate solution, all buybacks could be relocated and reused for public housing; 800+ liveable homes are already available to provide immediate housing if our government works with community, not against us," said today's statement from House You.

A NSWRA spokesperson said, "The NSW Sheriff’s Office [with the assistance of NSW Police] lawfully removed a number of illegal occupants from flood buyback properties in Lismore and Mullumbimby last week. 

(NSW Sheriff's Officers talking to squatters in Pine Street last week)

"RA has resecured these properties by fencing properties, boarding up windows and doors and has regular security patrols. Water disconnections on all the properties are being undertaken. 

"The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) has worked respectfully with the illegal occupants for almost a year to find a peaceful resolution. This includes working with Homes NSW and other organisations to find alternate housing options.

"We are currently assessing these properties, and once these assessments have been completed, the houses will either be relocated or demolished. 

"Illegal occupation not only puts illegal occupants at risk but also presents a broader community safety risk, such as the recent house fires on Union Street.

"It also delays the RA’s critical recovery work, like relocation and demolition, and diverts funding and resources away from the Resilient Homes Program's core purpose to help flood-affected communities recover.

"We are asking the public to alert the police about any suspicious activity in or around buyback properties and others across the Northern Rivers." 

House You has said it has these community demands:

• Rent caps to address the affordability crisis
• Enough public housing so no one sleeps rough (end the waitlist)
• No empty homes while people are homeless
• No demolition of liveable homes
• Collaboration with community-led housing solutions

The House You statement said:

The camp highlights the cruelty of public servants making $350,000 a year (who are also landlords, and property owners themselves) criminalising homelessness and the absurdity of their policy that now leaves hundreds of buyback properties vacant and vulnerable to arson and anti-social behaviour.

The camp will remain until government provides permanent housing solutions rather than temporary accommodation that displaces people from their communities and support networks.

"We need a system for people and planet, not for profit and privilege," concludes Chels Hood Withey. "Housing is a human right, and we won't accept anything less than housing for all."

It should be noted that Homes NSW has been in contact with squatters to find alternative accommodation for the last eighteen months.

House You is demanding permanent housing solutions rather than what they call "unstable Link2Home (7 days in a motel)". This is, in fact, not the whole story.

There is no timeline on how long an individual can stay in temporary accommodation. Typically, the duration of temporary accommodation (TA) assistance was 28 nights. On 12 July 2023, NSW Minister for Homeless Rose Jackson waived the 28-night cap on TA for all people and households facing homelessness.  

This policy change applies across all Homes NSW services across the state, including Link2home. As a result, there is no set end date for TA, where ongoing support may be required to meet the housing needs of affected individuals and families.  It is determined based on an assessment of each client’s immediate housing needs.  

The NSWRA said that any illegal occupants who requested housing support after these evictions have been referred to Homes NSW.

A Homes NSW Spokesperson told the Lismore App, "Homes NSW has made numerous attempts to engage and provide housing support to the people outside The Hon Janelle Saffin MP’s Lismore office.  

"We will continue to try to provide housing support.

"Anyone experiencing or at risk of homelessness can contact the statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service, Link2Home, on 1800 152 152. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week." 

State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said her Electorate Office continues to assist constituents who are genuinely homeless.

** The Australian Bureau of Statistics said today that wages rose 3.4% in the year to June 2025.