Premium Content Subscriber only Skyrocketing numbers of those sleeping on the streets or in their cars have highlighted the acute need for a solution to the Northern Rivers' housing crisis. North Coast Community Housing CEO John McKenna was interviewed by Greens candidate for Richmond Mandy Nolan this week and laid bare current statistics for rough sleepers, rental vacancy rates and more, which painted a shockingly grim picture of our region. In Byron Bay, more than 198 residents were forced to sleep on the streets, the beach or in their cars in a "quite dire" report. "It is (the biggest count we've ever had)," he said, responding to Ms Nolan.