Homelessness NSW

Last week, Homelessness NSW joined the opening for a new-generation boarding house style building which is going to provide a safe permanent home for 12 people.   Metro Community Housing Co-Op Ltd is a not-for-profit community housing provider based in Sydney’s Inner West. They recently completed this significant housing project in Summer Hill – which has been a huge feat for a small provider!   The building’s design is thoughtful and innovative; including accessible rooms, shared common spaces to come together, a community garden, and a beautiful mural for the internal walkway. Some of the funding is specifically allocated to house tenants from the Together Home program as a way to transition people into more stable housing. You can see already that this property will be a home, and Homelessness NSW are excited to see more buildings like this one being designed and delivered. #homelessness #homelessnessnsw #metrocommunityhousing #communityhousingprovider #communityhousing #socialhousing

We've just released our recommendations to the NSW Government for the 2025-2026 budget on how they can meet their commitment to making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring: https://lnkd.in/gWwQ647y We commend the Government’s recognition of the homelessness and housing crisis in the 2024-25 Budget (which included $5.1 billion for social housing and the commitment to deliver 8,400 new social homes). However, the rising demand for homelessness services has placed immense pressure on the sector, whose organisations are already grappling with a critical shortage of social housing and affordable private rentals. An urgent and sustained investment in housing and support services – including specialist homelessness services and social and affordable housing – is essential. Our 10 practical recommendations cover the necessities of: ✔️ strengthening homelessness services ✔️ investing in Aboriginal-led organisations and strengths-based Aboriginal leadership ✔️ supporting safe pathways from homelessness into homes #homelessnessnsw #homelessness #budget #nswgovernment #nswbudget

Yesterday, our CEO Dom Rowe visited LocalKind Northern Beaches in Manly - a special community and homelessness service making a difference. Dom met with Craig (the CEO), and Jess and Rebecca (homelessness outreach workers). They chatted about the challenges and heartbreak of working in the homelessness space, as well as the opportunities it can bring. It’s tough but rewarding work. LocalKind have helped so many people find a safe home. They support people who others turn away. This is work that truly makes a difference. One story Dom was told really struck a chord with her. "A pregnant woman had joined her husband in Australia. He had residency and she did not. They were booted out of temporary accommodation because of this and forced to sleep rough. "Can you imagine it? How inhumane! LocalKind called on the community through their Facebook page and a woman offered a granny flat where they now live with their child. "People make systems, but people can also fix them." Visiting services like LocalKind gives the Homelessness NSW team more information and drive for our advocacy. It’s true a privilege to be able to walk alongside services like this. #homelessness #homelessnessnsw #northernbeaches #communityservices #homelessnessservices

Want to know the real story on Australia’s unmet demand for homelessness services? 🏠 Over recent years, the number of total clients served has barely increased because services are ALREADY OPERATING at full capacity. 🏠 Many more people never present to services because they know the services can't provide the help they need - so they just never try. 🏠 The number of people turned away has also not significantly increased because the more pressure workers experience responding to more people needing help than they can possibly provide the less likely they are to take the time to record someone turned away. This is evidence that we URGENTLY need at least 20% more funding from the NSW and Federal governments for vital homelessness services in our state. These numbers are simply unacceptable! To help show your support for a solution to this catastrophe, please join Homelessness Australia’s No One Turned Away campaign: https://lnkd.in/gYA2p8Az #homelessness #homelessnessaustralia #homelessnessnsw #nooneturnedaway

A recent report from Homelessness Australia, which surveyed specialist homelessness services across Australia over two weeks in September 2024, showcased the heartbreaking ways that people in need are being denied lifesaving care due to a lack of funding from the NSW and Federal governments. The enormous surge in demand for homelessness services across NSW has pushed services to breaking point. They’re doing everything they can, but there are simply not enough staff or resources to help everyone in need. This is especially serious in regional and remote areas, where there is often no other service available for people turned away. To help fix this tragedy and show your support for our call for at least 20% more funding to Australia’s homelessness services, you can join Homelessness Australia’s No One Turned Away campaign: https://lnkd.in/gYA2p8Az #homelessness #homelessnessaustralia #homelessnessnsw #nooneturnedaway

A landmark study released today by Homelessness Australia has found the number of people at risk of homelessness in NSW has surged 64% to almost 700,000, partly driven by the huge increase in the number of people experiencing rental stress. The housing situation in Australia is fast becoming a catastrophe, with 700,000 people just one rent rise or one emergency away from becoming homeless. This enormous increase has completely overwhelmed the capacity of our already-stretched homelessness services, who have had to close their doors to people desperately seeking help. As always, we’re continuing our call for the NSW and Federal governments to step up and provide at least an extra 20% of funding to fix this total economic and social failure. Show your support by joining Homelessness Australia’s No One Turned Away campaign: https://lnkd.in/gYA2p8Az #homelessness #homelessnessnsw #homelessnessaustralia #nooneturnedaway

Many solutions to homelessness are known. Social housing is one of them. We need more investment to tackle the 58000 people currently on the wait list.

Join us online next week for our Specialist Homelessness Services Network Meeting! 📆 Thursday 14 November 2024 🕒 Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm 📍 Where: Virtual Join us to hear from: 🎤 The Hon. Rose Jackson, MLC 🎤 Dom Rowe, Homelessness NSW CEO 🎤 Homes NSW 🎤 Domestic Violence NSW 🎤 Yfoundations Also on the agenda:  ✅ Temporary Accommodation panel discussion with representatives from Homes NSW, Mission Australia, Women's & Girls' Emergency Centre (WAGEC) and City of Sydney ✅ Sector wellbeing ✅ Client satisfaction ✅ SHS Workforce Development session Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gsfunMM4

Join us for our next online Specialist Homelessness Service (SHS) Network Meeting. 📆 Thursday 14 November 2024  🕒 Time: 9.30am – 12.30pm  📍 Where: Virtual Why take the time to attend? ✔️ Connect & collaborate with your peers while sharing your insights and ideas to create a stronger, more supportive sector community. ✔️ Gain valuable knowledge and expertise, shares ideas about key issues for our sector, and explore new strategies & best practices. Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/gsfunMM4

Passionate about Housing First? Apply to join the Homelessness NSW Housing First Network! Our new Housing First Network aims to strengthen and advance Housing First practice, program design and systems change in NSW and extend the skills of Housing First champions.  💬 Who should apply?  The network is open to workers who have been engaged in delivering Housing First and Housing Led programs, workers who have incorporated Housing First Principles in their service delivery, and to Australian Housing First trainers located in NSW.  We’ve had a great response from our Together Home workforce, and we'd also like to include voices from homelessness workers who were involved in Housing First informed programs. This could be STEP, Sustaining Tenancies in Social Housing, Common Ground, or another program. 💬 What will the Network do?  Members will inform understanding of Housing First lessons learned through service delivery, and support Homelessness NSW’s efforts to integrate Housing First within homelessness systems. Meetings will be held quarterly (with the first one planned for late November 2024), and there will be additional opportunities to work on specific projects. Members are expected to attend all meetings.  Submit your Expression of Interest here: https://lnkd.in/gsDm9TDx