Two-year-old in hotel for five months as NSW fails on housing vulnerable
Homes NSW spent more than $2.3 million on hotel rooms for homeless people. This was in Wagga alone since January 2025.
Governments across Australia house homeless people and vulnerable children in hotels. They do this because they lack permanent social housing.
Homes NSW spent more than $2.3 million on hotel rooms for homeless people. This was in Wagga alone since January 2025.
Some single nights cost $290. Basic rooms there cost less than half that.
A two-year-old and their sibling stayed in hotel rooms for 163 days. This was due to a lack of foster carers.
Hotels are designed for travellers. They are not for vulnerable people who need ongoing stability and support.
The arrangement is expensive. It does not help people move forward.
- $2.3 million since January 2025
- Hotel spending in Wagga
- 163 days
- Days child stayed in hotel
- $290 per night
- Highest nightly rate
Why it mattersGovernment resources are wasted on expensive, ineffective solutions. They should fix the underlying housing crisis. This crisis affects thousands of Australians.
AustraliaVulnerable Australians lack permanent homes while governments spend millions on short-term hotel stays instead of building social housing.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 4 h ago
