Homelessness NSW is a peak body that advocates for policies to prevent and eliminate homelessness in New South Wales. It develops and assesses policies, provides information and education about homelessness, and supports organizations in the sector. Homelessness is a complex issue caused by failures in various service systems. It affects vulnerable people through social exclusion, ineffective services, lack of affordable housing, and lack of supported accommodation. The number of homeless people in NSW has increased by 28% since 2011, with over 35,000 homeless as of 2016. Homeless individuals need access to housing with varying levels of support, from no support to intensive long-term support.

1. Homeless in NSW
Digby Hughes

2. Homelessness NSW
Homelessness NSW is a peak body representing
individuals and services with an interest in
homelessness in NSW. Our mission is to work
towards the prevention and elimination of
homelessness.

3. Our role?

4. Homelessness NSW
 We develop and assess policies that
impact on homelessness and its risk. We
advocate to Governments, business and
the broader community to improve policy
and program initiatives that affect
homelessness
 We provide extensive information and
education about the causes of
homelessness and the diverse program
and service delivery approaches that are

5. Homelessness NSW
 We provide significant amounts of support
and advice regarding organisational
change and development and service
delivery design in the homelessness
sector
 We work collaboratively with other peak
housing, homelessness and broader
human services organisations at the NSW
and national level

6. Framing homelessness
It is the mark of a healthy community how it
protects its most vulnerable and disenfranchised.
Being homeless is a complex issue, created by
the failure of a variety of service systems.
Homeless people and those at risk of becoming
homeless are affected by common themes that
include social exclusion, an ineffective service
system, lack of access to housing that is
affordable to people on low incomes and a lack of
support and supported accommodation services.

7. Why Homelessness?
 ‘Any city, however small, is in fact
divided into two, one the city of
the poor, the other of the rich’

8. How many homeless - NSW
2001 2006 2011
23,041 22,219 28,190

9. How many homeless –
Sydney?
February 2010 418
August 2010 289
February 2011 363
August 2011 307
February 2012 310
August 2012 246
February 2013 274
August 2013 255
February 2014 346
August 2014 296
February 2015 365
August 2015 352
February 2016 486
August 2016 394
February 2017 433

10. How many homeless NSW?
 August 2011 – CoS 307
 August 2016 – CoS 394
 28% increase
 NSW August 2011 - 28 190
 NSW August 2016 35,000??

11. 2015 Registry Week
 516 interviewed
 Average age 42
 Time homeless – 5 years 4 months
 17% - ATSI

12. 2015 Registry Week
 516 interviewed
 53% - been in prison
 65% arrested
 44% victim of violence

13. 2015 Registry Week
 516 interviewed
 29% - brain injury
 72% - substance abuse
 53% - mental health issue

14. 2015 Registry Week
 516 interviewed
100% - income less then
$400 per week!

15. 2015 Registry Week

16. 2015 Registry Week
 516 interviewed
 14% - need housing sans support
 51% - housing with some support
 35% - housing with intensive (forever) support

17. What do they need?

18. What do they get?

19. What do they get?

20. What do they get?

21. What do they get?

22. But not

23. How to get there?
 1. A national homelessness strategy that takes
best practice to scale
 2. Build streamlined access
 3. Housing First
 4. Rapid Rehousing
 5. Preventing tenancy breakdown
 6. Short and medium term accommodation
 7. Deliver integrated services to prevent
homelessness

24. How to get there?
 8. Affordable housing
supply

25. Issues for libraries?
 Meeting places?
 Safe places?
 Sleeping places?

26. Contact details
Digby Hughes
02 9331 2004
digby@homelessnessnsw.org.au
https://www.facebook.com/homelessnessnsw1/?re
f=hl