Shadow Housing and Homelessness Minister Ryan Park says the provision of social housing on the Far South Coast is in "dire shortage" and homelessness services needed additional support from the NSW government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Recently, the Keira MP met representatives of South East Womens and Childrens Services and said their biggest concern was the lack of youth homelessness services and refuges.
"For young people who find it difficult to stay at home - (it) is a real challenge going forward and one that I want the government to focus on," Mr Park said.
Census data from 2016, released in October last year, suggests the Moruya-Tuross Head region and the Bega-Tathra region had the highest numbers of homeless people on the South Coast.
On the night of the 2016 Census, 121 people were homeless in the Eurobodalla Shire.
Mr Park said the government needed to support additional social housing and funding for specialist homeless services on the Far South Coast.
"The government is focusing on street homelessness, which is only one part of homelessness," he said.
"What that doesn't capture is people who are couch surfing, staying at various family members houses or homes that are not suitable," he said.
"We need to have a "housing first" approach ... and to focus on young people and women over 55, who are over-represented"
He called for housing "so people who slip through the cracks and are finding it difficult with employment or mental health problems or disability have a safety net, to get back on their feet with dignity. A person can't get their lives in order if they don't know where they are going to rest their head".