Street count
Gathering accurate data about the number of people experiencing street homelessness is essential to informing the best way to target resources to those who need the most support.
The NSW Government undertakes annual street counts of people experiencing street homelessness. As well as providing a snap shot of where people are sleeping rough across the State, street counts help foster local collaboration and inform approaches to prevention, housing options and post-crisis support.
The 2023 NSW Street Count results
The 2023 NSW street count is the fourth annual statewide rough sleeping street count.
1,623 people were counted sleeping rough in the 2023 NSW street count – a 34 per cent increase compared to 2022.
Street counts took place between 2 February and 27 February 2023, in more than 350 towns and suburbs in 76 local government areas (LGA) across NSW.
Over 300 local organisations either consulted in the planning phase or participated in the delivery of street counts. Partners included Community Housing Providers, local councils and Specialist Homelessness Services, as well Aboriginal organisations, Local Health Districts, local community groups, and Police.
Please see the Technical Paper analysing the 2023 street count results PDF, 623.77 KB and including a full table of results by LGA.
Past street count results
For more information about previous street counts, please refer to the following Technical Papers: