Media release

06 January 2023

New data released by the New South Wales government highlights that the overall number of people on the NSW Housing Register’s waiting list grew to 57,550 households in 2022, a 13% increase from 2021 levels.

Even more alarmingly, Priority Applications on the waiting list increased by 12% over the past year, indicating that thousands of people most at risk face wait times for support of more than a decade.

The CEO of Community Housing Industry Association NSW (CHIA NSW), Mark Degotardi, said that the numbers show just how dire the state of the housing crisis is in New South Wales.

“We’ve been calling on the government to release these figures for months and we cannot let the summer holidays draw attention away from the scale of this crisis

“When the social housing waiting list for more than 57,000 households is this long it is no longer a ‘queue’, it is a catastrophe.

“At a time when many residents across the state are enjoying their summer break, there are over 57,000 households who face the grave uncertainties of not being able to keep a roof over their heads.

“Years of neglect from both sides of politics have created these stark inequalities and have left far too many people behind.

“In one of the richest countries in the world, housing insecurity is a policy choice and a policy failure.

“The housing crisis is looming as a serious challenge we face as a state, and it is emerging as a critical issue in the upcoming New South Wales elections.

“We call on candidates across electorates to commit to confronting the crisis and give this issue the attention it deserves.

“It is time for New South Wales to invest boldly in developing affordable community housing across the state,” Mr Degotardi said.

Media Contact: Mayank Gurnani, 0414 463 827