Special Edition: Councils on the Frontline of the Homelessness Crisis

Send us Fan MailToday we are joined by Andrew Clarke, a senior lecturer in sociology and social policy at the University of New South Wales, to discuss a timely and critical new study examining how Australian local governments are navigating the escalating homelessness crisis.While homelessness has traditionally been viewed as a state or federal responsibility, Andrew’s research reveals that councils are increasingly finding themselves on the front lines as de facto service coordinators.We explore the findings from a national survey of over 160 councils, which shows that two-thirds of local governments now report homelessness as a significant issue in their communities—a massive jump from just 10% a decade ago.From the role of librarians and park rangers as early "surveillance" points to the political pressures of managing public spaces, we unpack the "wicked problem" facing local leaders today.Links:UNSW Newsroom Release: https://www.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/news/2026/05/australian-councils-stretched-by-homelessness-crisis-new-unsw-study-findsAccess the full report: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ajs4.70114The Local Government News Roundup is supported this month by the National Growth Areas Alliance “Emerging Growth Areas Forum. Tuesday, 4th August at Hume City Council Town Hall in Broadmeadows, running alongside the NGAA National Congress. Registration is open now to all local governments — head to the NGAA website - ngaa.org.au - to secure your place. Support the showThe Local Government News Roundup is brought to you by the Victorian Local Governance Association, the national broadcaster on all things local government; with support from Symphony3 - simple, connected customer experiences; and Rath Engineering Development - smarter local government systems built from real on-the-ground experience.Links for stories referenced in the podcast can be found by visiting the Roundup website.Support the Roundup by becoming a subscriber for around $5 per month. ($3 USD) Click here to subscribe now.