68,000 Stranded on Waitlists as Homelessness Crisis Deepens

Member for Manly, James Griffin MP said the report reveals a 22 per cent surge in the number of people on social housing waitlists, blowing out to 68,247 households.

Of these, 12,478 households are on the priority list, meaning they are homeless or at risk of homelessness, living in crisis or emergency accommodation, at risk of harm such as domestic or family violence.

“As the housing and cost of living crises deepen, we’re seeing more people experience homelessness for the very first time. Rents are skyrocketing, homelessness services are at breaking point, and tens of thousands are trapped in a system that can’t cope,” Mr Griffin said.

“Manly is not immune to the crisis, with demand for housing and support services continuing to grow. Communities across the Northern Beaches are feeling the impact of this crisis firsthand, with more people struggling to secure safe and stable housing.”

“More than 6,500 people sought help from homelessness services last year due to rental stress alone, a trend that is only worsening. Specialist Homelessness Services are stretched to the limit and are being asked to do more with less. NSW needs more housing, alongside proper wrap-around support services,” Mr Griffin said. 

In 2024–25, only 35 per cent of people in NSW who needed short-term or emergency accommodation were able to access it, and 75 per cent needing long-term housing were not provided with accommodation or referred elsewhere for support.

“Labor’s inaction has left more than 68,000 households, including families fleeing domestic violence and people sleeping rough, stranded on waitlists,” Mr Griffin said.

“For too long, the Minns Labor Government has treated homelessness as a sideline issue, leaving families across NSW to fend for themselves.”

Wagga Wagga has seen the highest increase in priority housing need, rising by 500 per cent, followed by Griffith (450%) and Tamworth (330%). In Western Sydney, Camden has seen a 494 per cent increase in the priority waitlist, followed by Blacktown (405%) and Fairfield (175%).