A new report calls for enhanced government collaboration to tackle homelessness. 

The report highlights that an insufficient level of coordination among various tiers of government has exacerbated the homelessness crisis in NSW. 

The report titled "Rare, brief and non-recurring: A system-wide approach to ending homelessness together," by Homelessness NSW, underscores that isolated policy responses are bound to falter.

The report points out that there is a breakdown in collaboration due to power dynamics between funders, service providers, individuals experiencing homelessness, and even among the providers themselves. This disarray hampers effective solutions.

Amy Hains, the Acting CEO of Homelessness NSW, emphasises that the lack of affordable housing affects an increasing number of people in the state. 

Hains notes that inadequate investment in social and affordable housing, combined with a competitive rental market and rising living costs, places a significant portion of the population perilously close to homelessness.

Moreover, the report underlines that the support available to those facing homelessness is often short-term, while the overwhelmed and underfunded homelessness services lead to a situation where almost half of those seeking assistance are left without help. 

Discrimination, racism, and lack of empowerment further compound the issue.

The report criticises the lack of synchronised efforts across different government levels to provide housing and support services, further exacerbated by a shortage of pertinent data required for efficient allocation of funds.

The report identifies that the current strategies are fragmented and disjointed, failing to consider their mutual interdependence. This encompasses factors like social security payments, housing policy, and the personal experiences of the homeless.

Proposed solutions include advocating for increased welfare payments, the enhancement of social housing, and the integration of policies to target the root causes of homelessness. 

The report urges policymakers and regulators to adopt an outcome-oriented strategy instead of a compliance-centric one.