St Vincent de Paul Society Australia genetic logo

The St Vincent de Paul Society offers over 200 services that help people in need.

Safeguarding

Find Help

Membership NSW

Volunteering NSW

Careers NSW

Join the Social Justice Network

Vinnies Service Medallion

Vinnies Youth NSW

Donations of goods and services NSW

Gifts in Wills

Philanthropy

Fundraise for Vinnies NSW

Clothing drives, toy collections and food hampers

Corporate partnerships NSW

Financial donations NSW

Sponsorship NSW

Cause related marketing campaigns NSW

Workplace giving - community support NSW

Vinnies and the Return and Earn Scheme

Vinnies Bag O Rags

Vinnies re/CYCLE range

Vinnies Used Cooking Oil Recycling (VUCOR)

Get involved

Get Involved

<h1>Vinnies Shops</h1>
Everything you buy or donate inspires change in your local community.

Vinnies Shops

Shops

Social Justice Statements

Reports and Submissions

Modern Anti-Slavery Statements

Reconciliation Action Plan

Uluru Statement Resources

Energy NSW

Disability Inclusion Action Plan

Advocacy

About us

Contact Us

History NSW

NSW Strategic Plan

Leadership NSW

Policies NSW

Mission and Formation

About Us

News and stories

NSW Media Releases

Vision Magazine

Impact Magazine

NSW Blog

Your Kind of Good Magazine

NSW Disaster Reports

NSW Annual Reports

News and Stories

| Vinnies

Home

ACT & surrounds

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

National Council

SVdP Housing Australia

Report on Government Services highlights need for support

The latest <a href="https://www.pc.gov.au/ongoing/report-on-government-services/2025/housing-and-homelessness/homelessness-services" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Report on Government Services data</a> revealed that more than two in five people seeking assistance from Specialist Homelessness Services in NSW were unable to access accommodation in the past year.
The data, released by the Productivity Commission last week, found that 45.9% of people has unmet need for accommodation. While this figure represents a decreased from 48.8% a year ago, the raw truth of these figures is in the 19,724 people across the state who were unable to access support in their time of need.
Specialist Homelessness Services play a vital role in assisting people at risk and experiencing homelessness. 67,891 people in NSW received SHS support in the last financial year, decreasing from 68,388.
Concerningly, the number of people experiencing persistent homelessness – defined as someone experiencing homelessness for more than seven months over a 24-month period – continues to grow in NSW and Australia nationally.

Rich Text

People experiencing persistent homelessness (homeless for more than seven months over a 24-month period)

Image

The St Vincent de Paul Society NSW operates on the frontline supporting people through our Vinnies Services. <a href="https://www.vinnies.org.au/nsw/news-and-stories/nsw-annual-reports/st-vincent-de-paul-society-nsw-202324-annual-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In the last year, our Homelessness and Housing services supported 5,400 people</a>, along with a further 1,900 people through our Domestic and Family Violence services.
This demand for support comes at a time that services are being stretched beyond capacity and having to turn people away.
The Society had 3,393 requests for assistance that were unable to be fulfilled last year, representing an increase of 9.5% over a period of 12 months.
This alarming trend is reflected in the latest Report on Government Services data with the average daily unassisted requests for assistance in NSW increasing by 130% during the past five years.

Average daily unassisted requests for  accommodation and services  other than accommodation, NSW

The Society has released our latest <a href="/media/rupdubsz/2025-26-pbs-vinnies-nsw.pdf?path=rupdubsz%2F2025-26-pbs-vinnies-nsw.pdf" target="_blank" data-anchor="?path=rupdubsz%2F2025-26-pbs-vinnies-nsw.pdf" rel="noopener">Pre Budget Submission</a>, including a call for the capacity of Specialist Homelessness Services to be increased and allowing the SHS workforce to deliver best practice services.
This could by achieved through:
<ul>
<li>Providing at least a 20% increase in SHS funding to support transition to a new commissioning and strategic pathway, including a dedicated workforce development package to build capacity to meet the needs of clients with complex needs. </li>
<li>Investing in collaborative efforts to break the cycle of repeat homelessness for people sleeping rough who have complex needs by funding a $3.5 million brokerage fund to support existing and new complex case management panels.</li>
</ul>

Learn more about our <a href="/media/rupdubsz/2025-26-pbs-vinnies-nsw.pdf?path=rupdubsz%2F2025-26-pbs-vinnies-nsw.pdf" target="_blank" data-anchor="?path=rupdubsz%2F2025-26-pbs-vinnies-nsw.pdf" rel="noopener">Pre Budget Submission</a>