Homelessness NSW demands $158m from state government to end homelessness crisis

One state’s peak body working to end homelessness has called for an injection of $158m, as the strain on temporary and emergency services reaches a crisis point.

NSW’s peak body combating homelessness has called on the state government to invest $158m over the next three years, with demand on emergency and temporary housing reaching unseen levels.

In their pre NSW budget submission, Homelessness NSW called on the state government to spend $30m over three years to ensure adequate access to temporary accommodation, plus an additional $128m, or $64m per year over two years to ensure specialist homelessness service programs.

These include programs aimed at women experiencing domestic and family violence, and services specifically catering to the LGBTQI+ community, and people suffering from mental ill health.

Homelessness NSW chief executive Dom Rowe said the funding influx was needed, with so many people just “one rental increase, or one eviction notice away from homelessness”.

The crisis was compounded by a lack of housing stock, increased cost-of-living pressures and drastic rent increases.

NSW’s peak body combating homelessness has called on the government to invest $158m to ensure the access to temporary housing and specialist services. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ Jeremy Piper

“At the moment, one in two people that need help from homelessness services are not able to get help because services are full,” she said.

“That’s when people are at their most lowest point their most desperate, when they urgently need help, and they can’t receive it.”

The plea for help was two of nine recommendations made by Homelessness NSW, which also includes a $1bn investment over 10 years to increase 5000 homes every year — alongside a 30 per cent target for Aboriginal people — and increase funding to Specialist Homelessness Service contracts by 6.2 per cent to make up for the shortfall in delivery costs.

They also call for an additional $62m funding over three years into the Together Home Program, which aims to help transition rough sleepers into stable accommodation.

Additional resourcing is also required to target specific groups who experience homelessness, including people aged 55 and over, Aboriginal people, and youth experiencing homelessness.

According to the latest figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 58 out of 128 local government areas had reported an increase a rise in people accessing homeless services in 2023.