NSW Government extends number of days homeless people can receive accommodation support

The length of time people experiencing homelessness can stay in state-supported housing has been extended, with the NSW Premier promising it will reduce the number of rough sleepers on our streets.

SYDNEY AUSTRALIA РNewsWire Photos, 17 JUNE, 2023: NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson announces the NSW Government̥s public and social housing strategy in Inner City Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Simon Bullard

The length of time people thrust into homelessness can stay in temporary housing paid for by the state government has been extended from two days to seven, with NSW Premier Chris Minns saying the reform will have a “major” impact on homeless numbers.

The number of days people in NSW could access state-funded accommodation such as motels was changed from seven days to 48 hours by the former Liberal state government.

However research shared by Homelessness NSW shows the existing time frame led to a revolving door as people scrambled to find housing and reapplied to the emergency service.

Minns was joined by Housing and Homelessness Minister Rose Jackson and Homelessness NSW policy and research manager Kate Davies at Jewish House, a non-profit run by the Jewish community at Bondi on Wednesday.

The NSW Premier said it was an initiative which would offer support for “those who are going through traumatic incidents in their life”, including domestic violence, and was part of the government’s wider reforms to address the housing and rental crises.

NSW Premier Chris Minns. Picture: Nikki Short.

“We need to make sure when we’re dealing with the housing crisis in NSW, we’re at the same time making sure we’ve got policies that are humane for those who are suffering,” he said.

Ms Jackson said Homelessness NSW research had shown there had been a dramatic increase in rough sleepers in the state, from 1200 at the end of 2022 to 1600 this year.

Rose Jackson, Minister for Housing and Homelessness (left) and Chris Minns, Premier of NSW announcing homeless accommodation reforms.

Eileen Ingraham who lives at Jewish house dog, pictured with her dog, Smokie.

There has been a 15 per cent jump in the number of people on the state’s social housing waitlist for the same period.

She said the housing crisis – coupled with rising cost of living – had driven the spike in homelessness numbers as more people experienced housing and rental stress.

“We know that the housing crisis is causing more homelessness,” she said.

Ms Jackson said the change had come from “listening to providers on the ground” and that a seven-day stay would provide a “proper and adequate window to access the full services” provided by the NSW Government including financial planning. domestic violence support and rehabilitation services.

She rejected suggestions the changes would strain available housing used by the government, and said it would reduce churn for those struggling with insecure housing.

Ms Jackson said any increase in government spending would be revealed in the upcoming budget, which will be handed down in September.

Jewish House CEO Rabbi Mendel Kastel said the reform will give people in desperate situations “a little bit of extra time to really have an opportunity to get the outcomes they need”.