Key findings: Reducing the costs of homelessness across NSW Government services

Understanding pathways to homelessness has important benefits in reducing the costs of homelessness for individuals, communities and government services.

The average cost to government over 6 years for people accessing homelessness services is $186k, nearly 4 times higher than the NSW population. Only 9% of costs relate to homelessness and housing services.

Within this group of people accessing homelessness services, the 5% with the highest cost represent 1,500 people. The average cost to government across 6 years is $706k per person, with 84% of these costs attributable to NSW health and justice services.