The number of people sleeping rough across the Tweed has reduced by 25 per cent in the last year thanks the NSW Government’s commitment to empowering people to break the cycle of homelessness.
Member for Tweed, Geoff Provest said in February 2020, 77 people were sleeping rough in the Tweed Shire, but this year that number is down to 58.
“The annual street count of rough sleepers is critical in understanding the needs of the community and targeting supports tailored to those needs.” Mr Provest said.
“The Government is working hard to get rough sleepers off the streets and into secure housing, providing them with the wraparound support they need to rebuild their lives.
“Seeing such a significant reduction in rough sleepers across the community is a testament to the strong partnerships our Government has forged with local housing and homelessness organisations and I look forward to that good work continuing.”
The NSW Government expanded assertive outreach to Tweed Heads in 2019 and has invested $65 million in the new Together Home initiative, which providers secure housing and wraparound supports for people who were sleeping rough.
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Gareth Ward said the second annual state-wide street count of rough sleepers had recorded 1,131 people compared to 1,314 people last year – a reduction of 14 percent statewide.
“The work we’ve done in the last year has helped hundreds of rough sleepers secure housing and prevented thousands of people from becoming homeless by helping them maintain tenancies in the private rental market,” Mr Ward said.
“Pleasingly, the overall number of people sleeping rough has reduced, but we are determined to see it go down even further and will continue working hard to deliver housing outcomes for people across NSW.”
The annual street count will provide NSW Government with valuable data as it pursues the ambitious Premier’s Priority of halving street sleeping across the state by 2025.
More information about the 2021 street count is available online.