The NSW Government is working with partner agencies to assist inner city rough sleepers into safe accommodation during this period of extreme weather.
The emergency response in the inner city comes on top of increased accommodation assistance for people in flood impacted regions across the state.
Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said homelessness outreach patrols have increased with the implementation of the Inner City Emergency Response Protocol.
“Rough sleepers are some of the most vulnerable people in our community and the extended period of wet weather is affecting their health, safety and wellbeing,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
“We have activated the protocol with the City of Sydney and our partner agencies to ensure people sleeping rough have a warm, dry and secure place to stay.”
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the combined effort would provide additional protection for the city’s rough sleepers.
“In April 2015, Sydney was hit by cyclonic winds, hail and severe thunderstorms that registered our highest rainfall in over a decade. The City, State Government and NGOs acted quickly, braving the rough weather to provide emergency accommodation and support to people who had nowhere to shelter,” the Lord Mayor said.
“When the storms passed, the City and State Government formalised that arrangement and launched the Inner City Response Protocol for People Sleeping Rough. We are now able to activate the protocol and replicate the response at short notice, including the current storms.
“Our joint emergency response means people sleeping rough are housed in appropriate accommodation to seek respite from the elements. The City’s homelessness unit, along with many others, are out on the streets right now helping people to access this accommodation.”
More than 1,200 people have received emergency accommodation support in flood impacted regions across the state, which has been expanded with more accommodation options coming online each day.
The NSW Government is also working to secure longer-term housing solutions for people who will not be able to return to their homes for several months or more, and for those who need to rebuild.
