Robyn Goodsell has always believed the public housing system is "broken", especially after experiencing homelessness herself.
Now, after dedicating decades of her life to working in the sector, she is without a home yet again and living in a tent.
The first time she was homeless, Ms Goodsell was fleeing a violent relationship and now, after being forced to move out of her relative's home, she is in the same boat.
The recently unemployed Walbunja-Djiringanj woman has been living at North Head campground in Moruya on the New South Wales South Coast for almost two weeks.
"I'm a 54-year-old Aboriginal woman who has worked nearly all my life, has sacrificed so much for my children and now I'm living in a tent," she said.
Ms Goodsell is still in shock over having to resort to residing at the campsite despite her years of hard work.
"I feel like I'm an outcast living on a mission on the edge of town and yet I worked on every level of government for 25 years and I can't even get a job."
Ms Goodsell's resume includes working for the NSW Aboriginal Housing Office and ACT Housing.
She believes lived experience of homelessness and insight into the support that vulnerable people desperately need would be invaluable in the housing sector.
"I've seen it, I've lived it, and I've breathed it and those people that are getting jobs over me … where are they and what are they doing?"
'Sick of election promises'
The housing crisis was a hot topic when Premier Dominic Perrottet visited the south coast and spoke with Eurobodalla Mayor Mathew Hatcher.
Eurobodalla Shire council has allowed a growing number of people living in the North Head campground to stay beyond the state-government mandated 50-day limit.
Cr Hatcher is hoping to extend this policy to local caravan parks as well.
He said more long-term planning was desperately needed.
"I get very sick of seeing promises made for elections, some action being made after that and then leading into the next election we're just looking at promises again," he said.
Mr Perrottet said his government has invested in short-term accommodation for people affected by fires and floods.
"We are putting every financial ability we have into making sure we deal with those issues in the short term while at the same time having that long term focus, but make sure that every single person in this state has access to housing, and affordable housing as well."
'I want to see action'
Robyn Goodsell is focusing on local solutions, including a plan to make North Head more liveable for long-stay, homeless residents.
Her suggestions included improving access to public transport for families and purchasing other key essentials for residents such as larger tents, portable washing machines, solar blanket panels, and mini fridges.
"You can sit there and talk all day … I want to see action."
