Homelessness
Homelessness in the Coffs Harbour area
Homelessness is a complex issue with no single solution. It is an issue of concern for the community and Council. Solving homelessness requires long-term collaboration across agencies, social service sectors and the community.
Homelessness Strategy
Council at its meeting of 11 December 2025 endorsed the City of Coffs Harbour Homelessness Strategy and updated Homelessness Policy.
The Strategy identifies 17 initiatives to encourage and support ending homelessness in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area by focusing on advocacy, leadership, and collaboration. The Strategy acknowledges that homelessness is complex and that there is no simple or single solution to solving it and ending it requires a commitment from the whole community and all levels of government.
See the City of Coffs Harbour Homelessness Strategy(PDF, 7MB)
Resources and information
Homelessness Policy
Council has endorsed a Homelessness Policy. The Policy establishes key principles that will guide the City of Coffs Harbour in supporting ending homelessness and its impacts in our local area.
The Policy informs actions aimed at:
a. Preventing, reducing and resolving homelessness
b. Supporting and building capacity within the community to address homelessness
c. Developing the equity and prosperity of the city
d. Designing, developing and managing public space
e. Encouraging collaboration, community partnerships and evidence-based practices to prevent, reduce and resolve homelessness.
View Council's Homelessness Policy(PDF, 200KB)
Homelessness information card
With our community partners, we've developed an information card. The card is helpful for people experiencing homelessness or housing stress.
Printed copies of the card are available through key local support services. Community-facing Council staff (Customer Service, Libraries, Rangers, and Coastal Works) also share the card when it can help.
(PDF, 734KB)
Street count
Street Counts are conducted annually by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice to determine the number of people experiencing homelessness in towns and local government areas throughout NSW.
Gathering accurate data about the number of people experiencing homelessness is essential to deciding where to target resources and support.
In 2025, 99 people were counted in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area – down from 147 in 2024.
Visit the NSW Government, Communities & Justice website to download the 2025 NSW State-wide Street Count Technical Paper