Byron Bay has lost its mantle as having the highest number of people sleeping rough in NSW following the release of the 2025 Street Count.

Inner-city Sydney now has the highest number of people sleeping rough after a 24 per cent increase since last year's count. Byron Bay recorded a 16 per cent decrease, with 291 rough sleepers, down from 348.

In Lismore, the numbers showed a small increase from 64 to 66. Ballina is around the same number, 63 to 64, while the Tweed has the second-most rough sleepers, as they, too, saw a decrease from 174 to 155. There are very low numbers in Kygole and Richmond Valley, with 3 and 4, respectively.

The 2025 Street Count reinforces the importance of the NSW Government’s targeted investment to build more homes and strengthen homelessness services, with 2,192 people recorded as sleeping rough across the state.

These results reflect positive progress following the NSW Government’s $2.3 million investment to establish a dedicated Assertive Outreach team on the North Coast, which was announced in May 2024. The initiative is helping connect vulnerable people with housing and support, delivering better outcomes for regional communities.

The NSW Government is putting money and resources into building a comprehensive approach to help combat homelessness. This includes strengthening specialist services for immediate support and increasing housing supply to deliver long-term solutions that prevent insecurity.

Key actions underway to ensure experiences of homelessness are rare, brief and not repeated include:

• Investing in more housing through the Building Homes for NSW Program: the $6.6 billion initiative the largest-ever investment in social housing and homelessness in NSW. It aims to build 8,400 new public homes, more than 21,000 affordable homes, and repair 30,000 public homes in need of maintenance.
• Delivering support through the Homelessness Innovation Fund: More than $16.6 million has already been allocated under the $100 million Fund to directly support the ideas and innovation of our Specialist Homelessness Services providers and other partners on the frontline of the housing crisis.     
• Reforming temporary accommodation: Greater investment in providing temporary accommodation and crisis services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
• Designing a better system: The NSW Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035 will be released in mid-2025, providing a whole-of-government plan with a focus on prevention, early intervention, and tailored support including stand-alone action plans for Aboriginal people, children and young people.
• Targeted planning reforms: The NSW Government has developed the Social and Affordable Housing Rezoning Pathway, which seeks to accelerate rezoning proposals for NSW communities in need and amended planning controls to fast track the delivery of temporary and crisis accommodation.

More than 370 local organisations partnered with Homes NSW to complete the 2025 Street Count in 415 towns and suburbs across 77 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in NSW.

This year’s results were captured between 4 February and 26 February 2025 and are published annually. The 2025 Street Count data can be viewed in full here:  www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/homes-nsw/social-housing-resources/street-count/2025-results

Minister for Housing and Homelessness Rose Jackson said, “Every year the Street Count gives Government a sense of the scale of homelessness across our state and I want to thank all the volunteers, councils and organisations who participated.

“The uptick in rough sleepers is a stark reminder of the homelessness and housing crisis we face, and an urgent call to action. 

“Every person deserves a safe place to call home, and the NSW Government is working tirelessly with our partners to provide the support and resources we need to make this a reality.

“Through Homes NSW, we expanded our assertive outreach teams and working hand in hand with community organisations, housing providers and all levels of government to address the root causes of homelessness.

“We’re reforming the system, planning for the future and thanks to our record investment in the Building Homes for NSW program we’re delivering more homes to ensure that no one is left behind.

“We are determined to work to drive down homelessness and as we continue to innovate and expand our efforts to provide more safe, secure and affordable housing for all.”