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The NSW Government released its 2024-25 budget on Tuesday 18th June. The budget sets out a long overdue and welcome investment of $6.1 billion in social housing and a package of $527.6 million for homelessness services and temporary accommodation.
Social housing investment is a win and there’s a 20% increase in homelessness investment. For the first time, this investment is over four years and with limited ties. Homes NSW says they want to codesign with us how the money should be spent most effectively.
Key investments that will impact the homelessness sector are in the areas of temporary accommodation, service delivery, social housing, domestic and family violence, and mental health.
Below is a summary that sets out funding announcements related to homelessness and the implications for the sector. We hope that this is a useful resource for you in unpacking what the budget means for specialist homelessness services and the people they support.
We have also included some key messages to support local advocacy. You are welcome to use the quotes provided in any media messaging and campaigning, however we’d appreciate you attributing these to Homelessness NSW as indicated.
Remember, the Housing and Homelessness Dashboard is also available on our website where you can access data relevant to your local government area.
We will take the opportunities available through these budget investments to advocate for more supported, safe and accessible temporary accommodation, and resources for providers to deliver critical services and pathways into homes with the support to keep those homes. We will be calling onour members in the coming weeks to help inform recommendations to government about the best ways to spend the $527.6 million for homelessness services.
$245.6 mil over 4 years for a coordinated, multi-pronged response that seeks to disrupt the cycle of DFV early and permanently, while optimising crisis response services to support victim-survivors. This includes:
$30.4 million over the next four years for community mental health teams (not homelessness specific), which will fund:
You can find up-to-date region-specific data on topics such as homelessness, use of specialist homelessness services, social housing and rental stress via our data dashboard: Housing and Homelessness Dashboard – Homelessness NSW
You can find a copy of our 2024/25 pre-budget submission and the recommendations for investment that we made to NSW Government here: https://homelessnessnsw.org.au/our-work/submissions/
Here are some quotes from Dom Rowe, CEO of Homelessness NSW, that you can include in media materials:
““The long overdue investment in social housing, including priority access for domestic violence victim-survivors is essential to turn around this once-in-a-generation crisis.”
“This $527 million investment in critical homelessness services is welcome, but must not represent our best efforts to tackle this once-in-a-generation crisis.”
“While it remains below what’s needed to meet soaring costs and community demand, today’s announcement is a step in the right direction. Homelessness NSW looks forward to working with the government to ensure the money goes where it is needed most.”
“Spending on crisis measures such as temporary accommodation are vital, but remain a band aid fix without substantial investment in preventing homelessness and long-term housing. The government’s plan to transform the temporary accommodation is a welcome move.”
“Without additional funding beyond 2025 for Together Home, which helps rough sleepers access long-term housing, hundreds of vulnerable people will be left without support.”
You can find the NSW Government 2024-25 budget papers here: https://www.budget.nsw.gov.au/
If you would like to discuss the policy or ideas for local advocacy, please contact Kate, Policy and Research Director at kate@homelessnessnsw.org.au
March 27, 2020
Homelessness NSW welcomed the steps taken by the Berejiklian Government to address the risks for people experiencing and at risk of homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic.