Key information
- Status: Closed
- Grant amount: Funding is available up to $15,000,000.00
- Application opened: 11 September 2024
- Application closed: 30 April 2025, 5:00 pm
Program objective
Solutions to addressing homelessness depend on partnerships and innovation between services, researchers, the homelessness and housing sectors, governments and the clients themselves.
Homes NSW is regularly approached by organisations with ideas to improve the homelessness service they deliver, or the system more generally.
Until now, there hasn’t been a mechanism for these ideas to be considered in an open and transparent process.
The Service Reform and Innovation Grant Program provides this mechanism.
This program is administered by Department of Communities and Justice.
Eligibility
Who can apply
The grant program is open to all accredited Specialist Homelessness Services (SHSs) and registered mainstream or Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHPs).
Consideration will be given to organisations who agree to achieve SHS accreditation and housing providers who are in the process of registration.
Partnerships are welcome.
Applications led by, or in partnership with Aboriginal-led providers will be highly regarded.
Please review the Grant Program Guidelines
Types of projects funded under this grant
Organisations will need to capture the expected outcomes and benefits of their project.
This is to be included when submitting an application in SmartyGrants.
Most recent recipients
What was approved
Approved for Women's Housing
This pilot aims to test the concept of shared accommodation in social housing. A shared housing model for older women creates a nurturing environment where 3-4 women live together, fostering companionship and reducing social isolation. This approach also offers practical benefits for the social housing system.
$151,100 was approved by
Minister JacksonDate approved
June 2025Location of the project
Western SydneyLocation of the recipient
Council of the City of SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
71
Service Reform and Innovation Grant - HIF
Program term
12What was approved
Approved for Women's Community Shelters
This project will see the establishment of a proven meanwhile use housing and support model that will provide transitional semi-self-contained accommodation for older women with lower support needs who are homeless in Maitland.
$170,294 was approved by
Minister JacksonDate approved
June 2025Location of the project
Maitland City CouncilLocation of the recipient
Council of the City of SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
71
Service Reform and Innovation Grant - HIF
Program term
12 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre
From Now is the Women's and Girls' Emergency Centre's (WAGEC) program supporting women exiting prison through housing and intensive case management. Building on its success, this project will develop a statewide Practice Framework to equip homelessness services with the tools, training, and cultural safety needed to expand access across NSW.
$615,000 was approved by
Minister JacksonDate approved
June 2025Location of the project
Georges River CouncilLocation of the recipient
Council of the City of SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
71
Service Reform and Innovation Grant - HIF
Program term
12 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for The Haymarket Foundation
The Haymarket Foundation seeks funding to install a commercial-grade shipping container kitchen at our new crisis accommodation service. This innovation will enable flexible, scalable meal provision for people with the highest, most complex needs, ensuring nutrition support for clients transitioning from rough sleeping into safe, stable environments.
$190,518 was approved by
Minister JacksonDate approved
June 2025Location of the project
Council of the City of SydneyLocation of the recipient
Council of the City of SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
71
Service Reform and Innovation Grant - HIF
Program term
12 monthsWhat was approved
Approved for The Haymarket Foundation
The Haymarket Foundation seeks funding to renovate 26 bathrooms in a new crisis accommodation service. Current bathrooms have unsafe, inaccessible showers Renovations will create safe, accessible facilities to better support vulnerable people with complex physical and mental health care needs experiencing homelessness.
$600,600 was approved by
Minister JacksonDate approved
June 2025Location of the project
Council of the City of SydneyLocation of the recipient
Council of the City of SydneyAbout the grant
Applications approved
20
Applications received
71
Service Reform and Innovation Grant - HIF
Program term
12 monthsWhat your application needs to include
Prepare your application with this checklist
Please review the Grant Program Guidelines and supporting resources available on the DCJ Grants
Address the eligibility criteria
Each applicant, as part of an application response, must confirm that they meet the eligibility criteria.
Applicants that do not address the eligibility criteria in full may be excluded from the application process at the department's discretion.
After the application is submitted
Successful applications will be decided by: delegated decision-maker CEO, Homes NSW
Applications will be considered against the following assessment criteria:
- Value for money of the grant applied for, noting that Homes NSW is seeking to have a statewide impact.
- How the project proposal will provide accommodation for more clients within exiting support resources. This includes crisis and medium-term accommodation.
- How the project proposal will support people out of crisis accommodation and into more stable and appropriate accommodation.
- How the project proposal will reach more clients and/or deliver better outcomes for clients.
- How the project proposal will improve the coordination of service delivery.
- How the model responds to particular cohorts, or regional factors.
- Evidence that the applicant has the capacity and capability to execute the proposal and within the proposed timeframes.
- How the model reshapes service delivery or contributes to system transformation.
Support and contact
Grant is administered by Homes NSW
Homelessness Program Management
Strategy, Policy and Regulation