On Saturday, 17th August, I joined The Hills community at the Annual Hills Winter Sleepout—an event raising vital funds and awareness for homelessness in The Hills, and across NSW and Australia. It was an eye-opening experience for many.
Homelessness is a growing issue in New South Wales and Australia. Across the country, over 122,000 people lack stable housing, including more than 35,000 in NSW. The 2024 Statewide Street Count recorded 2,037 people sleeping rough in NSW—a staggering 26 percent rise from the previous year. We are in a homelessness crisis.
In 2021, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported 28,204 youth aged 12-24 and 19,378 older Australians aged 55 and over were experiencing homelessness. The 2024 Mission Australia Youth Survey reveals that nearly 1 in 10 youth aged 15 to 19 experienced homelessness in the past year.
Nearly half of these young people faced loneliness, mental health struggles, and difficulties maintaining relationships. The primary reasons they seek help include housing crises, family and domestic violence, and relationship breakdowns.
Unfortunately, services for these vulnerable groups are stretched thin. Wait times for Link2Home skyrocketed from 7 minutes to nearly 39 minutes between June 2023 and June 2024. The homelessness sector is under immense pressure, compounded by rising cost-of-living pressures.
Investing in immediate relief and long-term solutions is crucial. By focusing on prevention and sustainable solutions, we can work towards a future where every person in NSW has access to safe and secure housing.
If you or someone you know is at risk of homelessness, contact Link2Home at 1800 152 152. If experiencing domestic, family, or sexual violence, contact 1800RESPECT at 1800 737 732.
