This report, commissioned by Homelessness NSW, presents the findings of the evaluation of the New South Wales government’s provision of temporary accommodation to people sleeping rough during the COVID-19 pandemic in inner City Sydney. The report covers the period from the first case of COVID-19 in Australia on January 25th, 2020, until the NSW Government’s announcement of the Together Home program on 8th of June 2020.

The report finds that the NSW government’s temporary housing of people who were sleeping rough in inner city Sydney was a significant achievement and one that was an important and effective measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19 amongst a highly vulnerable cohort. The report also highlights the high levels of commitment and collaboration between DCJ, NSW Health, peak housing and homelessness agencies and the specialist homelessness sector which facilitated the housing and support of large number of people sleeping rough. The primary vehicle for this collaboration was the Sydney Rough Sleeping COVID-19 Taskforce which built upon pre-existing collaborations and DCJ procedures to effectively coordinate temporary accommodation and support to people sleeping rough in inner city Sydney.