Social Futures acknowledges the NSW Budget 2025-26 announcement of $30.4 million to strengthen homelessness services across the state, including $20 million to expand crisis and transitional housing. This funding is a small step that will help more people in urgent need access a safe place to sleep and essential frontline support.
Complementing broader investments in health, education, social justice and support for children in out-of-home care, it is heartening to see the government taking steps to strengthen culture and communities through an additional $202.4 million to improve the lives of Aboriginal people in NSW.
As at 31 May 2025 there were 66,698 households in NSW waiting for social housing. Acknowledging that last year the NSW government committed $6.6 billion to social housing and that investment is still being rolled out, we urge the government to focus on accelerated delivery of public and social housing in areas that demonstrate the highest need.
Social Futures, CFO, Michael Carter said,
“We are committed to working cooperatively and constructively with all levels of government and the community to effect meaningful social impact that improves the lives of people in our communities.”
“A safe place to call home is an anchor point, without which people do not have an equal opportunity to thrive.”
The anticipated creation of up to 15,000 additional dwellings over five years aided by the newly announced $1 billion Pre-Sale Finance Guarantee program designed to help developers secure funding does not go far enough in addressing the housing affordability crisis in practical terms to support those in our communities who need homes today.
The recent release of the 2025 NSW Street Count data confirmed that the Northern Rivers continues to rival Sydney in disproportionately representing almost one third of all rough sleepers in the state.
It is widely accepted that rough sleeper numbers represent only a fraction of people at risk of or experiencing homelessness due to less visible forms of homelessness that are more difficult to quantify, such as couch-surfing with friends.
The absence of significant cost-of-living relief in the Budget means that the most vulnerable in our communities, who rely on persistently inadequate income support, remain under severe pressure in a rental and housing affordability environment that continues to see so many people unable to afford a secure place to live.
Without substantial delivery of social housing and additional cost-of-living relief, more NSW residents will be at risk of homelessness.
Social Futures will continue to advocate strongly for regional communities to be able to access the housing, services, and support they need to thrive.
