We May Face an Escalating Homelessness Crisis in NSW as Over 65,000 Seek Services

The housing crisis in New South Wales remains critical, with 67,900 people seeking help from homelessness services in the past year, emphasizing the urgent need for action.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, this number has barely changed from the 68,400 recorded the previous year.

Among those seeking help, housing security, financial hardship, and domestic violence were the leading causes, cited by 41 percent, 39 percent, and 36 percent, respectively.

More than half—53 percent— of those seeking assistance were already homeless, with 8 percent sleeping rough.

Indigenous Australians represented 33 percent of all clients in NSW, compared to the national average of 29 percent, highlighting a significant disparity.

CEO of Homelessness NSW, Dominique Rowe, described this overrepresentation as a “national shame” and called for increased collaboration with Aboriginal-led organizations to address this inequality.

This serves as a wake-up call, with the demand for services surpassing supply.

Currently, 76 percent of individuals seeking long-term housing support are unable to access it, and nearly half of those needing emergency accommodation are turned away.

The government is urged to take immediate action to address the growing crisis, with recommendations including a 30 percent increase in funding for the Specialist Homelessness Service program and a $2 billion annual investment for the construction of 10,000 additional social housing properties each year.

Despite recent government allocations for social housing, sustained investment is deemed crucial to address the issue effectively.

Shadow Minister for Homelessness Natasha Maclaren-Jones has criticized the government for the worsening housing and homelessness crisis, emphasizing the need for additional funding and expanded reporting to capture all forms of homelessness.

The NSW government has unveiled a $5.1 billion social housing scheme to tackle the housing crisis, including the construction of 8,400 new social homes.

National trends indicate a concerning rise in homelessness, with increasing numbers of employed individuals seeking assistance due to rental affordability stress and economic pressures.

To combat the crisis, the government has introduced significant reforms, including the Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Housing Accord, aimed at delivering new social and affordable homes and facilitating the construction of 1.2 million new homes nationwide.