NSW urgent social housing waitlist reaches highest level in more than a year

The number of NSW households classified as needing urgent priority social housing has risen to 13,776, the highest level in more than a year, according to figures reported on Tuesday. The broader social housing waitlist has remained at about 70,000 since May.

The latest figures show demand for urgent assistance is increasing much faster than the overall register, with the share of applicants in severe need continuing to grow. That means a larger proportion of people waiting for housing are unable to safely delay help.

The figures were reported in the context of ongoing pressure on the state’s housing system, where social housing supply has struggled to keep pace with demand. The waitlist has stayed broadly steady even as the number of households needing immediate support has climbed.