Housing boost combats homelessness

21 June 2022

A funding injection of $37 million will build on the success of the NSW Government’s Together Home program in tackling the issue of homelessness.

The 2022-23 NSW Budget boost will enable about 120 new social housing dwellings to be built to counter homelessness and to work towards any return to rough sleeping.

This new investment will almost double the number of homes currently being delivered for clients of the program across the State to 270.

Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said Together Home was a key part of progress being made to support the Premier’s priority to halve street homelessness by 2025.

“The Together Home program not only provides a roof over someone’s head, it is much more. It enables access to stable accommodation and wraparound services to improve health, wellbeing and independence by providing the tools vulnerable residents need to rebuild their lives,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.

“It aims to support people from across the State who have a history of homelessness and help them into stable accommodation with wraparound support for two years.

“A further $18.4 million has been allocated to extend leasing and support packages for existing clients who may need to stay in the program for longer. This brings the total government investment for Together Home to $177.8 million.”

Together Home was first launched in July 2020 during the COVID-19 outbreak and was a key part of the NSW Government’s commitment to keeping rough sleepers safe during the pandemic.

The program has been rolled out across 18 community housing providers throughout the State, as a First Nations-led model in the Hunter-Central Coast region.

Since its launch, 776 people have been housed and 927 people have been linked to support under the program.

Of these, 102 clients with complex needs are also receiving or have received assistance through higher-needs support funding.

For more information, visit: https://www.facs.nsw.gov.au/housing/help/ways/are-you-homeless/together-home