Shelter NSW is pleased to formally welcome the release of the NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035. This ten-year strategy can be thought of as a whole-of-government blueprint, guiding NSW Government action on homelessness, which will be led by Homes NSW but utilise the skills of many government agencies striving for a shared goal.  

For many years if not decades, Shelter NSW has argued loud and clear that not only ending homelessness is desirable, but that it is possible and realistic, though it will require significant political will and considerable government resources. We are extremely satisfied to see that NSW now has a clear, shared vision as to what ending homelessness means; a society where homelessness is rare – because it is largely prevented in the first place — brief, and non-recurring. We commend NSW Government on making this strong vision clear and explicit. 
 
We also welcome the strong recognition throughout the NSW Homelessness Strategy that homelessness is not an individual failure and that housing is a human right. The recognition of the need for a place-based, person-centred approach, and not to blame people for what are largely the failures of our housing system can seem obvious. But for far too long, this was not recognised in policy making, delivery, and practice. 

Shelter NSW cannot welcome this new vision strongly enough. Making homelessness rare, brief and non-recurrent, however, will require ambitious action, and the resources required to do so.  

To an extent, the Strategy seems very ambitious given the action and resources needed to make it successful. It recognises that limited supply of social housing and an underfunded housing and homelessness services system are major causes of increasing incidence of homelessness across NSW. However, it stops short of making commitments for recurring, increased investment in the system. Like many other peak bodies and community sector organisations, Shelter NSW was one of the first to loudly applaud the historic investment from NSW Government in 2024/2025 in social housing, but not surprisingly the last budget included almost no new investment such as additional funds for retrofitting existing social housing stock for greater accessibility. 

Strategic commitments to ‘Housing First’ principles are laudable and much needed after decades of triaging people in need of support between ‘deserving’ and ‘undeserving’ of help. However, ‘Housing First’ requires housing, first. And person-centred services preventing homelessness and supporting people to enter safe, secure, affordable and appropriate housing do not come cheap.  

We continue to call on NSW Government to invest in the housing and homelessness sector at scale, including through: 

• An immediate increase of 20% in core funding for specialist homelessness services and a commitment to provide need-based funding in the long term 
• Restore the social housing safety net to 5% of total stock as soon as possible, and work towards 10% of total stock to be social and affordable housing, by building and/or acquiring at least 5,000 dwellings per year 
• Investing in at least 3 Youth Foyers and other specialist crisis and transitional accommodation models such as Common Ground
• Develop and invest in a temporary accommodation system delivered by SHS and Homes NSW and not commercial providers while social housing supply increases (as committed to in the Strategy) 

Shelter NSW looks forward to providing input into the development of Homes NSW Action Plans. We will continue to advocate so that the NSW Homelessness Strategy is supported by adequate resources, allowing for ambitious action towards the success of its vision.