Wollongong City Council is committed to helping people who are experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness. We recognise that people experiencing homelessness have the same rights as everyone to use public spaces, and to be treated with respect and dignity.
NSW is experiencing a housing crisis, and securing a stable home is difficult for many people in our community.
Help is available every day of the week across Wollongong for things like food, showers, laundry, support with housing applications, tenancy advice, healthcare and counselling services. We also have warm or cool places to spend the day and charge your phone.
These services can help people who are homeless, or struggling to find or keep stable housing.
You can click on a service name to learn more.
| Service | Description | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Link2Home | The NSW statewide homelessness information and referral telephone service, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year. | Phone 1800 152 152 |
| Homes NSW | A NSW Government agency established to respond to social and affordable housing and homelessness. | Phone 4224 5700 Visit Ground Floor, 7-11 Bridge Street, Coniston, 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday |
| AskIzzy | An online directory to find the help you need now, nearby. Includes food, housing, money, support and counselling, domestic violence help, clothes, showers and more. | Visit the AskIzzy website |
| Illawarra Homeless Coordination Services | Drop-in support and help with housing services, provided by St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies) | Phone 4228 8140 Visit 16 Miller Street, Coniston, 9am - 2.30pm Monday to Friday |
| Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services | Help with housing, referrals to services like health and finances, bathroom and showers, food and personal care packages. On site Services Australia access (Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support) and Work Development Orders (WDOs). | Phone 4228 0955 8,30am - 4pm Monday to Friday Drop-in at The Hub, 40 Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow, 9am - 2pm Monday to Friday Thursday nights at Wollongong Train Station |
| Supported Accommodation and Homelessness Services Shoalhaven Illawarra (SAHSSI) | Works with women, with or without children, affected by homelessness or domestic and family violence. | Phone 4229 8523 Visit Level 4, 25 Atchison Street, Wollongong, 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday |
| Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation | Help with housing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members. | Phone 4211 0601, 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday |
| Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP) Illawarra Shoalhaven | Services to maintain or return young people and unaccompanied youth aged 12-15 years with their families or to help them transition to longer-term supported accommodation. Also provides support in education, training and jobs. | Visit the HYAP website. |
| Southern Youth and Family Services | Emergency and supported accommodation and housing, youth support. CHAIN drop in space for youth experiencing homelessness. | Phone 4240 4800 Visit 1A Denison Street, Gwynneville, 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday |
These services can provide support to people who are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless.
Anyone who is concerned about the welfare of a person who is sleeping rough or homeless can also contact these services.
| Service | Description | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Illawarra Homeless Coordination Services | Help with housing and drop-in support available, provided by St Vincent de Paul Society (Vinnies). |
Phone 4228 8140 Visit 16 Miller Street, Coniston, 9am - 2.30pm Monday to Friday |
| Wollongong Homeless Hub and Housing Services | Help with housing, referrals to services like health and finances, bathroom and showers, food and personal care packages. On site Services Australia access (Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support) and Work Development Orders (WDOs). |
Phone 4228 0955 8,30am - 4pm Monday to Friday Drop-in at The Hub, 40 Princes Highway, Fairy Meadow, 9am - 2pm Monday to Friday Thursday nights at Wollongong Train Station |
| Low Cost and Free Meals | Includes free breakfast and lunch programs and low-cost groceries. Also translated into languages other than English. | Different locations across Wollongong each day. |
| Street Side Medics | A GP-led mobile medical service that provides primary healthcare people experiencing homelessness. | 1 Railway Station Square, Wollongong, 5 - 7pm Thursdays |
| Orange Sky Laundry | Mobile laundry and shower services in Wollongong, Warrawong, Port Kembla. | Visit the Orange Sky Laundry website to find locations. |
| AskIzzy | An online directory to find the help you need now, nearby. Includes food, housing, money, support and counselling, domestic violence help, clothes, showers and more. | Visit the AskIzzy website |
| Southern Youth and Family Services | CHAIN drop-in space for youth experiencing homelessness. |
Phone 4240 4800
Visit 1A Denison Street, Gwynneville, 9am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday |
Community Centres
Many community centres provide information, referral and support, as well as food relief.
Use these links to contact local community centres:
Wollongong City Libraries
Our libraries offer safe, welcoming spaces that are cool in summer and warm in winter.
Libraries also provide free access to:
- Computers and internet
- Charging stations for your phone
- Library cards for people without a fixed address
- Help with filling out forms
- A wide range of free activities and programs.
Visit the Wollongong City Libraries website to find locations and opening hours.
Wollongong Youth Services
Wollongong Youth Services has youth workers who are available to help young people with information, support and referrals.
| Service | Description | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| Tenants' Union of NSW | Understand your rights as a tenant. Tenancy factsheets, sample letters and resources. | Visit the Tenants' Union of NSW website |
| Illawarra and South Coast Tenants Advice and Advocacy Service (ISCTAAS) | Free information, advice and advocacy. Help with applications and hearings in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Helps Housing NSW tenants, community housing tenants, Aboriginal housing tenants, permanent residents of caravan parks and manufactured home estates, boarders and lodgers and private tenants. | Visit the ISCTAAS website |
| Murra Mia Southern Aboriginal Tenants Advice and Advocacy Services | Specialist Aboriginal service. | Phone 4472 9363 or 1800 672 185 Email admin@murramia.com |
| NSW Fair Trading Tenancy Complaint Service | Free voluntary service between people involved in a tenancy dispute and who have been unsuccessful in resolving the issue themselves. | Visit the Fair Trading Tenancy Complaint Service web page |
| NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) | Tenancy disputes including payment of the rental bond, rent increases, termination of tenancy agreement, repairs and other breaches of the residential tenancy agreement. | Phone 1300 006 228 |
| Homeless Persons' Legal Service | Free legal help to clients and challenge unfair laws and practices that prevent people from having a safe and secure home. | Visit the Homeless Persons' Legal Service website |
| Aboriginal Legal Service | Legal support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. | Visit the Aboriginal Legal Service website |
| NSW Government Renting a Place to Live | Find out how to start or end a tenancy, how to get repairs done or get your bond back, and what to do if things go wrong. | Visit the Renting a Place to Live web page |
There is no one reason why people experience homelessness. It can be the result of many social, economic and health-related factors.
The current shortage of social, affordable and private housing and high cost of living means homelessness is a growing problem in our community.
In Australia, domestic violence is one of the leading causes of homelessness. Homelessness can also be a result of family breakdown, job loss, health issues or other stressful episodes. This can set off a chain of events that leads to a person being without a stable place to live.
Homelessness takes many forms including sleeping rough, couch surfing, sleeping in vehicles and staying in unstable or overcrowded accommodation.
Wollongong City Council’s approach to interacting and engaging with people experiencing homelessness aligns with the NSW Protocol for Homeless People in Public Places. We work with local outreach providers to support those in our community that need help.
To learn more, find or offer support, you can connect with the local services and organisations listed on this page.
You can also check out Council’s Affordable Housing page.