Street Count shows homelessness across Hunter remains steady

NEW data suggests that rates of rough sleeping have remained steady across parts of the Hunter region in the past 12 months, while significant increases have been seen in the MidCoast local government area.

Each year the NSW Government partners with local organisations across the state to complete “street counts” to provide a point-in-time count of the number of people in a geographical location observed to be experiencing street homelessness.

These organisations include Specialist Homelessness Services, local councils, Community Housing Providers, Aboriginal organisations, local community groups and NSW Police.

The 2026 Street Count was conducted across more than 461 towns and suburbs in 77 local government areas between 23 February and 19 March.

In Port Stephens, 35 rough sleepers were counted on a single evening, down from 40 in 2025.

Five people were counted in Dungog Shire, down from seven a year prior.

Newcastle recorded the region’s highest numbers with 66 people sleeping rough, followed by Lake Macquarie with 60.

Further north in the MidCoast LGA, numbers more than doubled in a year – from 27 in 2025 to 63 in 2026.

Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson said the data collected during the Street Count helped direct government investment where it was most needed.

“The urgent need to address the root causes of homelessness remains a work in progress to ensure that no one in our community is left behind,” Jackson said.

“The data tells us that a lack of affordable housing and high cost of living are the most common drivers, which is exactly why the NSW Government is laser-focused on building more homes as quickly as possible.”

Ms Jackson noted that the rate of increase was slowing, pointing to a 34 percent rise in 2023 that eased to eight per cent in 2025 and five percent this year.

“We are making headway, but it won’t happen overnight,” she said.

Some areas offered cause for cautious optimism, with Sydney’s CBD and Byron Bay both recording reductions – regions where government intervention had been concentrated in recent years.

According to the total count, the state’s homeless population climbed to 2,308 people – a five percent rise on the previous year.