National Homelessness Week: Homeless street count to take in regional areas like Tamworth

It's National Homeless Week and for the first time, the state government and non-government sector will team up to run street counts in rural and regional areas.

It's about time a light was shed on the seriousness of homelessness outside metropolitan areas, Tamworth Family Support Service manager Leigh Smith said.

"We're funded to see 550 people over the financial year, this year is the third time we've seen more than 1000 - those numbers are quite dramatic," he said.

"There would have been 30 or 40 minimum we had to turn away, we tro to refer them to other services but the numbers outweigh what we are able to do.

"It goes against everything we work towards."

The aim of the street count is to help inform the state government investment into the issue of homelessness.

People without homes are coming to Tamworth Family Support Service with more complex issues, and are needing to stay with the service longer.

Those who need placement in social housing can be put on a wait list for two to five years.

A minority of people sleep on the streets in Tamworth, about 90 per cent couch surf, stay in caravan parks or boarding houses where they can be asked to leave at any give time, Mr Smith said.

"We need a bigger investment to do more early intervention," he said.

"At the end of the day that will reduce the cost down the track with less people needing support."

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Those 55 and over is one of the fastest growing groups to face homelessness, as pensions fail to increase at the same rate costs of living do, Mr Smith said.

"We need a plan to end homelessness through all levels of government, to get together and address the issues," he said.

The state government goal is to halve rough sleeping by 2025 and it's hoped the street counts will assist with planning and investment.

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