THE State Government has announced $30.4 million for a new crisis intervention package to “ensure more vulnerable people can access homelessness services and find a safe place to live”.
The 2025-26 NSW Budget will include $20 million to expand existing crisis and transitional housing, and $10.4 million over four years for homelessness charity the Bill Crews Foundation.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said, “This is a clear choice: invest in real support and proper housing or keep pouring public money into motels.
“We’re choosing the first.
“You can’t end homelessness without building more homes – that’s why we’re delivering record investment in public and affordable housing through our Building Homes for NSW program.
“This package gives services breathing room now, while we roll out the long-term fix: more public housing, more affordable homes, and a system that actually meets the need.
“This funding is about giving people a stable place to stay tonight – but also making sure they have somewhere permanent to go tomorrow.”
Homelessness NSW CEO Dom Rowe said the investment provides some immediate relief for overwhelmed services but emphasised the need for much greater long-term commitment.
“This $30.4 million provides breathing room for frontline services, but we must be clear about the magnitude of the challenge we face,” Ms Rowe said.
“The 2025 Street Count showed an eight percent increase in rough sleeping to 2,192 people, compared to 2,037 people in 2024.
Around 68,000 Australians sought help from specialist homelessness services in NSW in 2023-24, with many turned away due to overwhelming demand.
“Homelessness services across the state are overwhelmed,” Mr Rowe said.
“They cannot help everyone and must make heartbreaking decisions about who to turn away.
This should not be happening in one of the wealthiest places on earth.
“Ending the homelessness crisis requires greater structural change.”
