Budget boost to help rough sleepers break the cycle of homelessness

Hundreds more rough sleepers will be helped into housing and connected to tailored supports with the NSW Government announcing a $57 million expansion of the successful Together Home program over two years as part of the 2021-22 NSW Budget.
 
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the funding would significantly scale up the life-changing program, which has already housed 422 people who were sleeping rough.
 
“There’s people engaged in this program who less than a year ago were living on the streets, but are now in stable housing and rebuilding their lives, connected with tailored supports, training and employment opportunities,” Mr Perrottet said.
 
“The NSW Government’s record investments to prevent and respond to homelessness are making a real difference and this additional boost will support hundreds more people off the streets for good.”
 
Together Home involves securing homes from the private rental market and delivers intensive tailored supports to meet the complex needs of the people in the program.
 
The NSW Government delivers Together Home in partnership with community housing providers, specialist homelessness services and healthcare agencies.
 
Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services Alister Henskens said the $57 million investment would fund a further 250 Together Home packages and enable community housing providers to deliver more than 100 new homes across the state.
 
“This program breaks the cycle of homelessness and changes lives for the better, by securing housing for the people who need it most, and connecting them with the services and support they require,” Mr Henskens said.
 
“This funding boost enables community housing providers to deliver more new homes, by fast-tracking shovel ready projects to help meet demand.”
 
Together Home is a key contributor to the Premier’s Priority of halving street homelessness across NSW by 2025.