Where to get help if you are homeless in the Sydney city centre
The service providers below can help with information, showers, clothing, telephone, service referrals, arts and activities, meals, laundry, health, emergency aid, transport, crisis accommodation, internet, toilets and safe space/drop-in. Some provide specialist help for women, lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans/intersex/queer people and refugees. Check the details to see who can help with what you need.
AskIzzy
- free app listing service providers nearby
- wide range of categories from food, money, jobs, complaints, community centres
Wayside Chapel
Showers / Clothing / Phone / Service Referrals / Arts and Activities
- 2 centres, one in Kings Cross the other in Bondi
- provide showers (until 9pm), clothing, toiletries, phone charging, information and phone calls
- help with housing applications, referrals for housing, health, legal, mental health, Centrelink, employment, study and financial support
- free haircuts every Tuesday 4pm - 7pm
- social and recreational activities during Twilight Program from 4pm
- Aboriginal Program with weekly lunch, arts and storytelling program and referrals
- cafés which provide warm meals for a very low price
- Community Dinner every Wednesday 6pm
Kings Cross: 29 Hughes Street, Potts Point
Telephone: 9581 9100 Email: [email protected]
Hours:
Mon: 9am - 10pm; Café: 9am - 9pm
Tue-Sat: 9am - 10.30pm; Café: 9am - 9pm
- Sun: 10am - 10.30pm; Café: 12pm - 9pm
Rough Edges
Meals / Arts and Activities / Service Referrals
- café with free meals
- safe creative drop-in space
- practical help and referrals
- financial information and support, including emergency relief
- free legal service on Monday nights 6.30pm – 8pm & Friday 12pm – 2pm
Location: 120 Darlinghurst Road, Darlinghurst
Phone: 9360 6844 or 9360 6844 (main office)
Operating Hours:
- Sun & Mon: 7.30pm - 9.30pm
- Wed: 11am - 2pm, 7.30pm - 10pm
- Thur: 7.30pm - 10pm
- Fri: 11am - 2pm, 7.30pm - 10pm
The Station
Meals / Showers / Laundry / Health / Clothing / Service Referrals
- free breakfast and hot lunch 7 days a week
- free shower and laundry services
- toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, ear buds, haircuts and donated clothing
- psychiatrist, a general practitioner, lawyers, and a direct line with Centrelink
- specialist homelessness service drop in centre with mental health, alcohol and drug, gambling support and referral
- food parcels and food vouchers
Location: 82 Erskine Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Phone: 9299 2252
Hours:
- Mon - Fri: 7.30am - 4pm
- Sat - Sun: 7.30am - 2pm
- Breakfast: Mon – Sun (7.30am - 9am)
- Lunch: Mon – Fri 12.30pm - 1pm, Sat – Sun (12pm - 12.30pm)
Showers: Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 12:30pm Sat-Sun: 7:30am – 10:30pm
Laundry: Mon – Fri: 7:30am – 12:00pm Sat – Sun: 7:30am – 10:30pm
Click here for the Station Ltd
Missionbeat
Emergency assistance / Transport / Crisis Accommodation
- transport to services to meet immediate needs, including safe accommodation, medical care, food and clothing
- may be able to provide a blanket or street swag
Phone: 1800 306 461 (or 9509 7100)
Hours: Mon – Sun (7am – 10am and 6pm - 9pm)
Location: 19 Denham St Surry Hills
Click here for Mission Beat Sydney
Exodus
Health / Meals / Phone / Internet / Arts and Activities / Service Referrals / Toilet / Showers / Laundry
- walk-in free health centre providing primary health, drug, mental health, and chronic conditions support, including podiatry
- dental, optometry and counselling services at health centre by appointment only
- hairdressing, legal services, Centrelink support by appointment
- daily free breakfast, lunch and dinner
- access to a phone, internet (Monday to Friday, 9am - 4pm and Saturday to Sunday, 9am - 2pm)
- access to showers (7am - 3.30pm)
- OrangeSky laundry every Tuesday 7am - 12pm
- artistic, sport and recreation activities
Location: 180 Liverpool Road, Ashfield
Phone: 8752 4600
Hall opens at 7am for coffee and TV
Health Centre: Monday and Wednesday (9am - 4pm); caseworkers available Mon – Fri (9am - 4pm)
Meal hours:
- Breakfast: Everyday (arrive between 9am and 9.45am) at Loaves and Fishes Restaurant, 180 Liverpool Road Ashfield
- Lunch: Everyday (arrive between 11.30am and 12.45pm) at Loaves and Fishes Restaurant, 180 Liverpool Road Ashfield
- Dinner: Everyday (arrive between 7.30pm and 8.30pm) at Yurong Parkway in Woolloomooloo
Women’s and Girls Emergency Centre
Crisis Accommodation / Emergency assistance / Service Referrals / Women’s Safe Space
- personalised service to women, children, and young people who are homeless or at risk
- inclusive of transgender people
- basic necessities such as food, material and social assistance,
- safe drop-in space
- case management to help access housing, medical, drug and alcohol, mental health, legal and other services
Location: 174 Redfern St, Redfern
Phone: 9319 4088
Operating hours: Mon – Fri (8.30am – 4.30pm)
Click here for Women's and Girls Emergency Centre
Lou’s Place
Women’s Safe Space / Meals / Service referrals / Shower / Laundry / Clothing / Arts and Activities
- daytime refuge for women
- crisis intervention, case management, referrals, legal advice
- free breakfast (8.30am) and lunch (12.30pm) Mon-Fri
- activities to help build confidence and life skills
- shower, laundry services, and clothing
- inclusive of transgender women
Phone: 9358 4553
Location: 182 Victoria St, Potts Point
Operating hours:
- Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri: 8.30am – 3.30pm
- Tue: 8.30am – 2pm
HopeStreet Women’s Space
Women’s Safe Space / Showers / Laundry / Service Referrals / Clothing / Emergency assistance
- help with homelessness, mental health, domestic violence, trauma and addiction
- case management, counselling, advocacy, advice, assistance and referrals
- emergency food, clothing and toiletries
- laundry and showers
- sponsor Work Development Order (WDO) program
- workshops and English language classes
- support for women involved in street-based sex work
- inclusive of transgender people
Phone: 9358 2388 or 8061 1555
Location: 174 Cathedral Street, Woolloomooloo
Hours: Mon – Fri, 9.30am - 1pm
Click here for Hope Street Women's Services
City of Sydney Libraries
Phone / Internet
- charge phones
- access to internet
For branches and locations click here
Toilets
Toilet
Click here for City of Sydney toilet locations
Click here for National Toilet Map
Oasis Youth Support Network
Crisis accommodation / Meals / Shower / Laundry / Internet / Service Referrals / Arts and Activities
- young people 16 – 25 who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness
- crisis and transitional accommodation
- education and training including high school
- fitness and recreation, young parents program
- case management, counselling
- drop-in centre, Monday – Friday 8.30am - 10.30am, with breakfast, showers, laundry, computers
Phone: 9331 2266 (operates 24/7 for crisis accommodation)
or Phone: 9380 6308 (for transitional accommodation)
Location: 365 Crown Street, Surry Hills
Operating hours:
- Mon – Thu: 9am – 5.pm
- Fri: 9am – 4pm
Click here for Oasis youth support network
Link2Home
Service referrals / Crisis accommodation
- information and referral telephone service for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless across NSW
- referral to homelessness services across NSW
Phone: 1800 152 152 (freecall 24/7).
Click here for FACS Housing advice
St Vincent’s Homeless Health
Health
- outreach help for people with complex health needs such as homelessness, drug and alcohol issues or mental health conditions
- assessment, treatment, referral and care coordination
- help to get inpatient treatment or specialist care
Phone: Intake line 1800 602 417 or 8382 1512 (Mon - Fri: 8am - 4.30pm)
Click here for St Vincent's Hospital
Will2Live
Meals
- meals every weeknight at Cnr Pitt Street and Eddy Avenue Central Station, from 6.45pm
Orange Sky
Shower / Laundry
- free laundry van that travels to several locations throughout the week
- free shower van
- sit and have a chat while you wait
Schedule changes weekly see HERE
Twenty10
LGBTQI+ Support / Health / Arts and Activities / Internet / Laundry / Shower / Service Referrals
- LGBTQI+ Drop In centre (12 – 25 years old) with free food and drink, Wi-Fi, Xbob and Wii, laundry, and shower
- Health clinic (Tuesdays, 3pm – 5pm)
- ICLC legal clinic (Every 3rd Monday, 3pm – 5pm), to book click HERE
- housing service for LGBTQI+ youth (under 26)
- free counselling, by appointment
- Women’s Coming Out Group (18+ years old), every second Thursday 7pm – 9pm
- Men’s Talking it Out Group (18+ years old), every second Thursday 7pm – 9pm
- Qlife telephone counselling and referral service (3pm – 12am every day)
- Accessible gender neutral toilets
Location: Level 1, 45 Chippen Street, Chippendale
General operating hours: Mon – Fri (9.30am – 5.00pm)
Drop In centre hours: Mon – Tue, Thu – Fri (2.pm – 5pm)
Support and intake phone: 8594 9555
QLife: 1800 184 527 or chat online HERE (daily 3pm – Midnight)
St Canice’s Church
Meals / Refugee Service
- free lunch seven days a week (11am – 1pm)
- free dinner Wednesday nights (from 7pm)
- the Jesuit Refugee Service located at St Canice’s offers emergency assistance, temporary shelter, legal advice, employment support and more
Location: 28 Roslyn Street, Elizabeth Bay
Click here for St Canices Church
Salvation Army Street Level
Meals / Laundry / Arts and Activities / Shower / Service Referrals
- Lockers, showers, meals, laundry
- Community lunch every Thursday 12-1pm
- Recreational activities and informal English language classes
- Low cost fresh and packaged food and groceries
- Low cost café and op shop
- Case manager for support with housing, Centrelink, advocacy and referrals
Phone: 9360 1321
Location: Derby Lane (off Albion St), 339 Crown St Surry Hills
Operating Hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am - 3.30pm
Emergency Relief Assistance line: 1300 371 288 (Mon-Fri, 9am - 5pm)
Kirketon Road Centre (KRC)
Service Referrals / Health
- walk-in primary health care service
- no appointment needed
- no Medicare card needed
- free condoms
- 24/7 injecting equipment dispenser and sharps bin
- opioid substitution access program
- provides medical, counselling and social welfare services
- target their services to youth, sex workers, people who inject drugs, people experiencing homelessness, LGBTIQ community and Aboriginal peoples
Location: Above Darlinghurst Fire Station, entrance on Victoria Street, Darlinghurst
Phone: 9360 2766
Hours: Mon-Tue & Thu-Fri: 9.30am - 5pm
Wed: 12pm - 5pm
Weekends and Public Holidays: 10am - 1.45pm (NSP and methadone dispensing only)
Clinic 180
Sexual health / Service Referrals / LGBTQI+ Support
- Connected with Kirketon Road Centre (KRC)
- Open late, services by appointment
- Sexual health screening, STI treatment, sex worker health checks, HIV and Hep C testing, Hep B testing and vaccination (weekdays only)
- Condoms, needle and syringe distribution
- Social welfare advice and referral
- Medicare card not required
Location: 180 Victoria St Potts Point
Phone: 9357 1299 (between 2.30pm – 9pm) or call KRC before 2.30pm on 9360 2766
Operating hours:
- Mon – Fri: 2.30pm – 5.30pm and 6.30pm – 9pm
- Saturday: 2.30pm – 7 pm
Homeless Persons' Legal Service
Legal Advice / Service Referrals
- Outreach clinics provide free legal advice and assistance
- Advice on civil legal matters such as fines, credit and debt, tenancy, AVOs, victim’s compensation, Centrelink problems
- Representation in court on criminal maters
- Clinics at various times at different locations – see website for details
- Attend WISH held at The Wayside Chapel from 9.30am - 11.30am on the third Wednesday of each month (except July and December)
Phone: 8898 6545
Click here for Homeless Persons' Legal Service clinic times
Matthew Talbot Hostel
Showers / Clothing / Phone / Service Referrals / Arts and Activities / Meals / Laundry / Health / Emergency assistance / Crisis Accommodation
- crisis accommodation and specialised support to men 21 years old or over who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- primary health care medical clinic, pastoral care, counselling and basic facilities
Location: 22 Talbot Place Woolloomooloo
Phone: 9358 8102 (open 24/7)
Click here for Matthew Talbot Hostel
Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
Phone / Service Referrals / Arts and Activities / Meals / Emergency assistance / Internet / Women’s Safe Space / LGBTQI+ Support / Pets
- boarding house outreach service, homeless outreach
- access to computers, internet, phone and printing
- information, social support and referral, including low cost accommodation information
- yoga, tai chi, English classes ($3-5 per class)
- counselling
- aged care service
- playgroup (children aged 0-6), every Thursday from 10am – 12pm
- women and family safe space, alternate Tuesdays 11am – 1pm
- free lunch every Thursday from 2pm - 4pm at their ‘One Stop Shop’ (Centrelink, Housing, legal, domestic violence support, Pets in the Park)
Phone: 9564 7333
Location: 1 Bedford St Newtown
Hours: various hours for different services – see website
- Mon to Fri: 9.30am - 4pm (general)
Click here for Newtown Neighbourhood Centre
Ozanam Learning Centre (OLC)
Service Referrals / Arts and Activities / Internet
- referrals to case management and other supports
- provide free access to accredited onsite education
- free recreational activities and living skills program
- group outings
- support groups and counselling
Location: Level 3, 99 Forbes Street Woolloomooloo (next to the Matthew Talbot Hostel)
Hours: Mon-Fri 8.30am - 4pm
Phone: 9358 8170
Click here for Ozanam Learning Centre
Pets in the park
Pets / Service Referrals
- Pet health clinic in Darlinghurst
- free health checks, vaccinations, flea treatment, worming treatment and basic medication for pets owned by people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
- Must have a referral letter to attend clinic, from: Rough Edges, The Wayside Chapel, Mission Australia, NEAMI or Matthew Talbot Hostel
Hours: Last Sunday of every month, 2pm - 4pm. Last animal seen at 3.45pm
Location: St Johns Anglican Church, 120 Darlinghurst Road
Phone: 1300 017 979
Click here for Pets in the Park
Youth Off The Streets
Meals
- Food van, nightly at 10pm
- All ages welcome
Location: Green Park, Darlinghurst Road Darlinghurst (opposite St Vincent’s Hospital)
Click here for Youth Off the Streets