Moved by Councillor Ellsmore, seconded by
Councillor Worling –
It is resolved that:
(A)
Council
note that:
(i)
the
City, through its Homelessness Action Plan, acknowledges its commitment to all
people in the city experiencing or at risk of homelessness
(ii)
the
City’s homelessness response is widely recognised as sector-leading, providing
vital support to address service gaps and meet the needs of people who are
excluded from other services, including on the basis of residency status
(iii)
the Plan
compels the City to monitor issues facing at-risk groups and to advocate to
other levels of government to address emerging needs
(iv)
in
April 2026, Council unanimously supported a motion, calling on the NSW and
federal government to provide support for non-resident rough sleepers, as part
of Council’s response to the sad and untimely death of Bikram Lama
(B)
Council
further note:
(i)
the
Local Government NSW Conference will be held in Wollongong in November 2026
(ii)
while
immigration is a federal responsibility and housing policy is set by the
federal and state governments, councils are on the frontline of the effort to
tackle homelessness, responding to people based on need not on visa status
(iii)
the NSW
Homelessness Strategy (2025-2035) recognises asylum seekers, temporary visa
holders, and undocumented people as a distinct group facing unique risks of
homelessness, and barriers to assistance. However, non-residents are excluded
from many of the state's housing products and services
(iv)
that organisations
such as the Refugee Council of Australia identify temporary visa holders,
international students, people seeking asylum, and certain New Zealand citizens
as cohorts that face distinct barriers and experience hidden homelessness
(v)
that
while the City of Sydney, along with other councils across the state, provides
funding for support services for people experiencing, or at risk of,
homelessness regardless of visa or residency status, gaps in resourcing limit
the ability of councils and other frontline services to adequately respond to
the growing demand for these supports
(C)
Council
endorse the submission of the following motion to the 2026 Local Government NSW
Annual Conference:
That
Local Government NSW advocates to the NSW and Australian Governments to:
(a) expand
Homes NSW eligibility for key housing products for temporary visa holders
experiencing homelessness, including Rent Choice Start Safely, Rent Start Bond
Loan and Rent Advance
(b) request
targeted funding for frontline homelessness and asylum agencies that support
non-residents who are excluded from mainstream services due to their visa
status
(c) provide
resourcing through the National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness to
improve access to information, referrals, crisis assistance and appropriate
homelessness and housing support for temporary visa holders experiencing
homelessness
(d) ensure
people seeking asylum on temporary visas have the right to work, access to Medicare,
and access to existing financial assistance in times of crisis, so they can
support themselves and their families.
Carried unanimously.
X113765