Dharma Care’s annual campaign for the Northern Rivers homeless community.
Here’s something most people don’t know about the Northern Rivers: Byron Shire records the second-highest number of rough sleepers in all of New South Wales. Byron and Tweed together account for more than a quarter of the state’s rough sleepers — from just a sliver of its geography.
Behind those numbers are people who’ve lost housing through rising rents, flood recovery hardship, domestic violence, or simply the brutal mismatch between wages and what it now costs to live here. More people with jobs are becoming homeless.
Older Australians are the fastest-growing group. Women and children escaping violence remain among the most at risk.
Each winter, Dharma Care’s Winter Warmer campaign mobilises our community to do something about it.
The four charities Winter Warmer supports receive little or no government funding. They rely entirely on community generosity to keep their doors open — and the demand keeps rising.
Fred’s Place in Tweed Heads now sees up to 130 people a day. Fletcher Street Cottage in Byron recently recorded 100 visits in a single day, well above their average. These aren’t abstract numbers. They are people in our community, right now, with nowhere else to turn.
Make a Difference This Winter
Donate — Make a Tax-Deductible Gift
All donations are split equally between our four frontline charity partners and go directly to delivering meals, emergency accommodation, warm clothing, safe sleeping options, transitional guidance and ongoing support across Byron and Tweed Shires.
Since 2023: $170,000+ raised. 8,000+ people helped. This year our target is $50,000
The support provided not only meets urgent needs – it restores hope, dignity, and belief in a better future.
When Support Becomes a Turning Point: Voices from the Winter Warmer Campaign
Supporting: Fletcher Street Cottage, Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre, Freds Place & The Shift Project.
DONATE NOW
Buy Tickets — Winter Warmer Cabaret
An unforgettable evening of dinner, magic, comedy, art, and cabaret peformances.
Thursday 2 July 2026 | 6:00pm – 10pm | Salt, Kingscliff NSW
MC’d by the brilliant Mandy Nolan, with performances and interactive art exhibits from The Space Cowboy, Kinship Doobai Dancers, and a Welcome to Country from Aunty Jackie.
[ BUY TICKETS ]. LIMITED Tickets
Your ticket includes winter warming canapés, the full cabaret show, and a small contribution to Winter Warmer 2026.
A full drinks bar will be available on the night, plus a raffle and art auction.
Funds raised support: Fletcher Street Cottage · Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre · Fred’s Place / Vinnies · The Shift Project
All Proceeds Support people experiencing homelessness in Byron and Tweed Shires.
Funds raised are shared equally with partners working on the front line to help alleviate suffering and helping many people get their lives back on track.
WINTER WARMER 2026 – JOIN US – LIMITED PLACES
Our Charity Partners
Pottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre – is a vibrant human services community hub, which responds to the needs of people impacted by hardship, disadvantage, barriers to wellbeing, life challenges and changing circumstances.
The Shift Project – supports women through the challenges they face moving from homelessness to independence, from welfare to wellbeing.
Fred’s Place / Vinnies – Fred’s Place is an empathic, friendly, safe environment that provides services to vulnerable and homeless people within the local Tweed Heads community.
Fletcher Street Cottage – is a welcoming, safe and respectful place for people experiencing homelessness to get practical relief, find connections and access broader support. A one-stop-shop for Byron Bay’s most vulnerable with co-located services making for easy access to government services such as Centrelink.
All of these wonderful charities provide support and assistance to many people experiencing homelessness, including meals, laundry facilities, emergency accommodation, work readiness, transition and counselling, and other essential services.
Key Facts About Homelessness in Byron & Tweed
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Byron Shire remains one of the worst homelessness hotspots in NSW, recording the second-highest number of rough sleepers in the state in 2026.
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Tweed Shire recorded 529 people experiencing homelessness in the 2021 Census, with hundreds more living in insecure or marginal housing.
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Byron and Tweed together accounted for 27% of all rough sleepers in NSW in 2023, despite representing only a small fraction of the state’s population.
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Rough sleeping across NSW has increased by 51% since 2020, with regional communities experiencing the sharpest rise.
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59 people every day are turned away from homelessness services in NSW because demand exceeds available resources.
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More people with jobs are becoming homeless, with the proportion of employed people seeking homelessness assistance rising from 10.9% to 15.3% over five years.
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Social housing represents just 1.8% of housing stock in Byron Shire, far below community need.
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Women and children escaping domestic and family violence remain one of the largest groups at risk of homelessness.
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Older Australians are the fastest-growing group experiencing homelessness, with homelessness among people aged 65+ increasing by 31% over six years.
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First Nations people make up 6% of the North Coast population but 15% of people experiencing homelessness.