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The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the 2021 Census data on Homelessness. Nationally, 122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness at the time of the 2021 Census, an increase of 6,067 people (5.2%) since 2016.
In NSW, there were 35,011 people experiencing homelessness in NSW, compared with 37,715 in 2016, representing a decrease of 7.2%. Despite a decrease overall, homelessness numbers have increased for the following groups:
Regional NSW also saw an increase in Homelessness, namely:
An overview on the 2016 to 2021 data for NSW is in the Table 1 below.
While the overall rate of homelessness is down in NSW according to this census data, this doesn’t mean the housing and homelessness crisis in NSW has improved. As acknowledged by the ABS, the impact of COVID-19 has impacted the homelessness data. In NSW, a number of COVID response measures were implemented from early 2020 until late 2021 – with $1.035 billion investment in homelessness and social support services during this period. This includes significant increases in Temporary Accommodation funding, the Together Home program, new social and affordable housing investments as well as maintenance funding. This clearly indicates that government investment can and does improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness and we continue to call on all parties to help us end homelessness together. Read our plan here.
As compared to other jurisdictions, NSW had the third highest rate of homelessness (43 per 10,000 people) , followed by Victoria (47 per 10,000 people) and Queensland (44 per 10,000). This excludes the Northern Territory which on this measure has already had a disproportionately high level of homelessness with 564 per 10,000 in 2021.
Homelessness NSW will continue to interrogate this data and provide additional insights. We are also developing a Homelessness Census Dashboard that will provide easily accessible homelessness census data from 2006-2021. This will be available over the coming weeks.
You can read our media release on the latest census data below.
Table 1: A comparison of 2021 and 2016 census data by number of homeless persons, by select characteristics. Source ABS 2021 Homelessness Data Table 1.3
| 2021 | 2016 | % change | |
| Homeless Operational Groups | |||
| People living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out | 963 | 2,588 | -62.8% |
| People in supported accommodation for the homeless | 5,043 | 5,861 | -14.0% |
| People staying temporarily with other households | 4,100 | 5,350 | -23.4% |
| People living in boarding houses | 8,842 | 6,869 | 28.7% |
| People in other temporary lodgings | 1,427 | 222 | 542.8% |
| People living in ‘severely’ crowded dwellings | 14,640 | 16,821 | -13.0% |
| Age groups (years) | |||
| Under 12 | 4,232 | 3,963 | 6.8% |
| 12–18 | 2,777 | 2,677 | 3.7% |
| 19–24 | 4,903 | 6,365 | -23.0% |
| 25–34 | 8,057 | 8,715 | -7.6% |
| 35–44 | 4,885 | 5,041 | -3.1% |
| 45–54 | 4,181 | 4,537 | -7.8% |
| 55–64 | 3,361 | 3,626 | -7.3% |
| 65–74 | 1,883 | 1,939 | -2.9% |
| 75 and over | 733 | 846 | -13.4% |
| Selected age groups (years) | |||
| 12–24 | 7,676 | 9,041 | -15.1% |
| 55 and over | 5,979 | 6,407 | -6.7% |
| Sex | |||
| Male | 20,377 | 22,698 | -10.2% |
| Female | 14,641 | 15,010 | -2.5% |
| Indigenous Status | |||
| Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander | 2,508 | 2,278 | 10.1% |
| Non-Indigenous | 27,816 | 31,327 | -11.2% |
| Not stated | 4,687 | 4,102 | 14.3% |
| Core activity need for assistance | |||
| Has need for assistance with core activities | 1,459 | 1,876 | -22.2% |
| Does not have need for assistance with core activities | 26,317 | 29,814 | -11.7% |
| Not stated | 7,241 | 6,024 | 20.2% |
| Total homeless persons | 35,011 | 37,715 | -7.2% |
August 8, 2023
Australia is confronted by an increasing housing affordability crisis resulting in tens of thousands of people being stuck on the waiting-list for social housing for extended periods. This project is motivated by a need to better understand the lives and circumstances of – people registered on social housing waiting lists (‘waitees’) while they are waiting for social housing. On 8 August 2023, Homelessness NSW hosted the online launch of this Report. You can watch the recording here.
