A comprehensive new data analysis by Homelessness NSW has revealed top local government areas for homelessness and rental stress, amid calls from the peak body for more social housing and greater funding for frontline services.
The interactive Homelessness NSW dashboard is the first of its kind and pulls together 50 data sources, including Corelogic and ABS data, to map localised statistics on homelessness, housing supply, income support payments and domestic violence rates.
It shows which areas are being hit hardest by homelessness, as well as those with the most people at-risk of becoming homeless.
Homelessness NSW CEO Trina Jones said: “This tool does not just show the extent of the state’s homelessness; it shows exactly how much public housing is needed and where and the risk in those areas.
“We have the data and solutions; now, we need to act together across all levels of government, community and business to ensure everyone has a safe home and the support they need.
“This is the first time these available data sources have been brought together to show the drivers and experiences of homelessness at the local level.”
The City of Sydney has the most people experiencing homelessness (3598), according to the analysis, followed by Canterbury-Bankstown (2696) and the Inner West Council (2551).
The LGA with the highest rate of homelessness is Walgett Shire in the state’s north (285 people per 10,000), followed by the City of Sydney (170) and Burwood (160). Other regional areas in the top 10 included Central Darling Shire Council in the state’s far west (104.3), Griffith (83.4) and Junee (70.1).
The proportion of renter households in rental stress – defined as paying more than 30 percent of income in rent – is highest in Fairfield (48.2 percent), followed by Byron Shire (47.9 percent), Tweed Shire (45.4 per cent), and Nambucca and Bellingen on the Mid North Coast (both 45 per cent), according to Corelogic data.
Homelessness NSW is calling on the government to set a target of lifting the proportion of social homes to 10 per cent.
“The number of people experiencing homelessness is already far too high and the rising cost of living and impacts from a lack of affordable rentals is increasing those at risk and experiencing homelessness,” said Ms Jones.
“The drivers of homelessness are complex but the solutions are not. We can solve these problems by properly funding homelessness services and urgently building more social housing.
“This will not only transform lives but also stop rents soaring and take pressure off our hospitals, police and other community services.”
Number of homeless (LGA) | Rate of homelessness per 10,000 people (LGA) | Rental stress % (LGA) | |||
1. City of Sydney | 3598 | 1. Walgett | 285.6 | 1. Fairfield | 48.2 |
2. Canterbury-Bankstown | 2695 | 2. City of Sydney | 170 | 2. Byron | 47.9 |
3. Inner West | 2551 | 3. Burwood | 160.6 | 3. Tweed | 45.4 |
4. Cumberland | 2220 | 4. Inner West | 139.5 | 4. Nambucca | 45 |
5. Blacktown | 1601 | 5. Central Darling | 104.3 | 5. Bellingen | 45 |
6. Fairfield | 1566 | 6. Cumberland | 94.3 | 6. Port Macquarie-Hastings | 44.7 |
7. Newcastle | 1081 | 7. Griffith | 83.4 | 7. Blue Mountains | 44.3 |
8. Liverpool | 1027 | 8. Fairfield | 75.1 | 8. Mid-Coast | 44.3 |
9. Randwick | 870 | 9. Canterbury-Bankstown | 72.6 | 9. Coffs Harbour | 44.2 |
10. Bayside | 858 | 10. Junee Shire | 70.1 | 10. Kempsey | 43.1 |
Key facts:
– Of the 34,944 people experiencing homelessness in NSW at the 2021 Census, 28 per cent were employed and 21 per cent were under the age of 19, 6.8 per cent were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
– For every 10,000 people, 43.4 people were experiencing homelessness
– 35 per cent of NSW renter households are in rental stress
– The proportion of social housing is at 4.6 per cent, with only 154,487 social homes
– On the night of the census there were 299,475 unoccupied homes recorded compromising nine per cent of the state’s 3.3 million dwellings
The Dashboard is made up of more than 50 metrics from 15 credible sources, with a data sources page and links to data where publicly accessible. Datasets will be updated as they are released.
