Image: NSW Premier Chris Minns speaks to the media during a press conference in Sydney, 2024. Photo: AAP/Bianca De Marchi)
The state government has announced its $130 million investment in an initiative aimed at expanding crisis accommodation, which will add a minimum of 200 crisis beds.
A four-year project funded by the Labor government, the Building Crisis Housing Plan will provide at least 200 new and renovated beds across NSW. The first beds are expected to be released in 2026. Moreover, the plan will renovate outdated facilities and utilise modular homes on vacant properties to quickly get the accommodation up and running, thereby expanding its capacity.
“This major investment is part of our plan to rebuild essential services and build homes for NSW,” said NSW Premier Chris Minns. “Whether it’s a mum and her kids escaping domestic violence, or a young person facing a night on the streets, this plan will deliver more safe and secure beds. Every new bed means one fewer person sleeping rough.”
Funding will be applied for renewing and expanding crisis housing for people experiencing homelessness, victim-survivors of domestic and family violence, young people, and Aboriginal communities.
Vast differences between the Building Crisis Housing Plan & LNP’s crisis efforts
The Minns government’s new plan differs from the previous Liberal-National government, which they say had neglected funding for refuge-based crisis rooms and services.
“The former government’s ‘Going Home, Staying Home’ reforms cut funding to vital refuges and left services stretched to breaking point,” said NSW Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson.
“This new plan changes that. We’re rebuilding crisis accommodation from the ground up with new investment in crisis housing for people facing homelessness and using modular housing to get new refuges open faster.”
The Building Homes for NSW program
The plan is part of the government’s $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program, which adopts a housing-first strategy to address homelessness. The program’s commitment includes 8,400 public housing units, with at least 50 per cent for female and child survivors of domestic and family violence situations. Additionally, 30,000 pre-existing homes will have upgrades to ensure they are both secure and environmentally friendly. The Building Homes initiative has been given record funding to provide its resources to the homeless community.
The NSW government has contributed $688 million to homelessness services, and this new crisis-bed plan builds on a prior $100 million Homelessness Innovation Fund, which has already provided over 800 rooms to lessen dependence on hotels and motels.
The previous services and new plans are an effort by the Minns government to assist and reduce the homelessness situation in NSW.
“This historic investment by the Minns Labor Government makes sure we have more crisis beds so victim-survivors don’t have to choose between staying with a violent abuser or their safety,” said NSW Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Jodie Harrison. “Our Government is working hard to build a safer NSW, investing in important housing measures like this so victim-survivors have a safe place to go when they need it most, but also addressing domestic and family violence to stop it before it starts.”
“When someone’s world is falling apart, with no safe place to sleep, they rely on crisis accommodation,” said Minns.
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