To date, local governments in Australia have not played a major part in addressing homelessness. However, the recent decisions of the Council of Australian Government (COAG) have committed all tiers of government, including local councils, to reducing homelessness. It is important, therefore, to understand what actions local governments currently undertake in addressing homelessness, how other programs and policies implemented by local government may affect the homeless population and how ‘good practice’ in this area could be conceived.