NSW homelessness initiatives

Our homelessness programs

We are committed to reducing homelessness. We try to look at the whole picture to reduce not just homelessness, but also the factors that contribute to it. Those factors are complex. They require a range of solutions to meet the needs of vulnerable people.

On census night on 10 August 2021, more than 35,000 people in NSW were counted as homeless.

The census was held when NSW was under COVID-19 related restrictions. When thinking about this number, keep in mind the pandemic responses that were in place. These may have affected the count.

Between 2016 and 2021 there was a:

• 7% decrease in the number of homeless people in NSW
• 63% decrease in the number of people sleeping rough on the streets
• 10% increase in the number of Aboriginal people who were homeless.

Our homelessness services and programs aim to break cycles of homelessness. We do this by balancing prevention and early intervention with crisis responses.

Specialist Homelessness Services program

Specialist homelessness services are:

• funded by Homes NSW
• delivered by non-government organisations across NSW.

They form a vital part of the system supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. They focus effort on people in the community most at risk of homelessness. This includes:

• women experiencing domestic and family violence
• rough sleepers
• young people leaving care
• people with mental health issues
• people living in unsafe conditions.

Services may include: 

• outreach
• case management
• links to education and training
• crisis and transitional accommodation.

Specialist homelessness services work in partnership with housing providers and other service providers. This includes those that provide programs around:

• drugs and alcohol
• domestic violence
• mental health programs.

These collaborations between services help people at risk of becoming homeless to stay housed. They also help people who are already homeless to find and keep a home.

There is also a network of refuges across NSW that provides crisis accommodation and support to those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This includes those who are escaping domestic and family violence.

Domestic Violence Response Enhancement

Over half of the specialist homelessness services across the state include a specialist response for women, including:

• women with children
• women with complex needs
• women who are escaping domestic and family violence.

As part of our goal to reduce domestic violence, we provide extra funding. This is through the Domestic Violence Response Enhancement (DVRE). This funding strengthens homelessness service responses for women and children who are:

• experiencing homelessness, or
• at risk of homelessness

because of domestic and family violence.

DVRE helps specialist homelessness services that focus on domestic violence respond to women in crisis at any time of day.

These responses happen through tailored local service models. These include:

• safety planning
• case management and assessment
• increased crisis and temporary accommodation options and support.

This ensures all women who present to a service get a risk and safety assessment. This helps identify their immediate needs. They also receive referral to the most appropriate accommodation and/or support.

Homeless Youth Assistance Program

Children and young people who are homeless are more likely than their peers to have experienced:

• abuse
• neglect
• family violence at home
• mental illness.

They may have:

• been in contact with the justice system
• misused drugs and alcohol
• be disengaged from education.

Through the Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP) we fund non-government organisations to:

• provide targeted and holistic responses
• help unaccompanied children 12 to 15 years old who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Under the HYAP, 19 service packages have been established across NSW.

These services provide integrated support. In some sites, they provide short-term accommodation. The aim is to reunite children with their families and broader support networks, where appropriate. Alternately, it is to enable them to transition to appropriate longer-term supported accommodation.

Key objectives of the HYAP

Key objectives of the HYAP include supporting children and young people to:

• rebuild family, kin and cultural connections and work towards family reconciliation, where appropriate
• successfully transition to independence
• engage or reengage with education, training and/or employment
• access mainstream health, mental health and wellbeing services
• engage or reengage with the broader community to support a successful transition to independence.

Providers who receive funding through HYAP are carefully selected. They have demonstrated experience and expertise in getting positive outcomes for unaccompanied children and young people.

An evaluation of how the HYAP program performed in 2017 to 2020 was done.

In July 2024, DCJ launched a reconfiguration of the HYAP model. This newly configured model offers children 3 service streams. Children and families are able to move from one stream to another as they need.

The 3 streams include:

1. Homelessness Prevention. This is a critical HYAP function. It could involve:
   • work in child and family relationships
   • youth work support and information
   • supported referral and advocacy.
2. Child and family work delivered on an outreach basis. This includes outreach in the family home:
   • the child will be returning to, or
   • the child will be maintaining connection with as part of their natural support network.
3. Child and family work as outlined above. This type of work uses accommodation strategically. This use of accommodation allows a journey towards:
   • a safe and sustainable return to family
   • other appropriate exit.

Get in touch

If you or someone you know is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, please contact Link2Home on 1800 152 152. You can also call the Child Protection Helpline on 132 111. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Find a specialist homelessness service.

For questions about homelessness services and programs, please contact the Homelessness Team by emailing shsprogram@dcj.nsw.gov.au