From the 2024/25 NSW budget decision, Homes NSW received $527.6 million in extra funding over four years for frontline homelessness services. Of this $100 million has been allocated to establish a Homelessness Innovation Fund (HIF). $30 million has been provisionally allocated for 2024/2025 for the HIF. The HIF is not an ongoing source of funding. It provides one-off grant funding to organisations to support better responses to homelessness.
There are two Competitive rounds of Grant Programs for the HIF in 2024-2025,
- Reforming Temporary Accommodation Grant will initially target reducing the current demand and costs of temporary accommodation.
- Service Reform and Innovation Grant seeks proposals for service reform and innovation as solutions to addressing homelessness.
The grant rounds are open to all accredited Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS), registered Community Housing Providers (CHP) and Aboriginal Community Housing Providers (ACHP) both through National or Local Scheme.
Consideration will be given to organisations who agree to achieve SHS accreditation and housing providers who are in the process of registration.
Partnerships are welcome.
Applications led by, or in partnership with Aboriginal providers, will be highly regarded.
Reforming Temporary Accommodation Grant purpose:
The purpose of the Reforming Temporary Accommodation Grant is to:
- Reduce the cost, use and length of stay of clients in temporary accommodation.
- Move away from commercial hotels and motels to temporary accommodation models being delivered by the homelessness and housing sectors.
- Increase access to appropriate supports, particularly for people with complex needs, who are staying in temporary accommodation.
- Encourage flexible and sustainable use of properties and support services over time when demand for temporary accommodation decreases.
- Attract co-contributions from the sector.
- Co-contributions could be in any form including case management support, land, properties, cash/equity, debt, tax concessions, philanthropic donations, reduced or avoided costs, or in-kind contributions.
- While the value and quantum of co-contributions will be one of the factors assessed, it will not be the only criteria. This is to ensure small and large organisations can participate equitably.