HOMELESSNESS SUPPORT SHOULD BE BASED ON NEED AND NOT VISA STATUS
The NSW Labor Government Homelessness Strategy 2025-2035 acknowledges that the right
to housing is a basic human right. The Strategy estimates that more than 35,000 people are
experiencing homelessness in NSW. There is an increase of 27% between the censuses
carried out in 2011 and 2021.
The Refugee Council of Australia (RCOA) reported in 2025 that in the City of Sydney alone,
nearly 20% of people sleeping rough are non-residents on uncertain visas, including asylum
seekers.
Over the years, successive Federal Governments have reduced Status Resolution Support
Services (SRSS) funding and eligibility and removed many non-residents’ work rights and
access to Medicare, while the NSW State Government has excluded non-residents from
homelessness support. Consequently, non-residents are locked out of mainstream social
services and there is no safety net in place to prevent destitution and homelessness. The
RCOA reported that currently, charities and frontline asylum services are left to fill the gap.
They provide food, emergency accommodation, rent assistance, transport and healthcare but
with little or no government funding. These services are stretched beyond capacity and rely
heavily on donations and community goodwill.
The Asylum Seekers Centre (ASC) reported in 2024 that homelessness is detrimental to the
welfare and mental health of non-residents. Subsequently, this affects their ability to lodge
and progress visa applications.
This motion is about giving all non-residents and asylum seekers access to homelessness
support.
No one should be excluded based on their visa status!
MOTION
(This ….… branch, SEC) recognises that the right to housing is a human right. To
ensure that everyone is eligible for homelessness support, we call on the NSW Labor
Government to include non-residents and asylum seekers in the NSW Homelessness
Strategy 2025-2035.
Send to:
NSW Minister for Housing, Minister for Homelessness, Rose Jackson MLC at
office@jackson.minister.nsw.gov.au
Your SEC
Branch/SEC Secretaries to submit motion to NSW Labor through the Online Policy
Motions Portal by deadline of 3 April 2026.