Housing waitlist cancellations a 'systems level problem', advocates say

Colin Betts is a well-known and popular figure in Gympie. ( ABC Wide Bay: James C Taylor )

Colin Betts dons his Santa suit, collects his vibrant signs painted with positive messages, and walks barefoot out to the roadside.

Accompanied by his faithful dog, Meri Rose, the 66-year-old brandishes the signs to the honks and waves of the passing traffic.

Nicknamed the Barefoot Santa of Gympie, Mr Betts has been a public fixture in the regional Queensland town for the past decade.

Colin Betts is known as Gympie's "Barefoot Santa". ( ABC News: James C Taylor )

"It's all in fun and laughter, laughter's good medicine," he said.

"A bit of positive energy, that to me means a lot."

Mr Betts lives with post-traumatic stress disorder and has been on the verge of homelessness for five years, squatting in an abandoned home with no power or hot water.

Copyright for this text belongs to ABC Australia.