Jewish House secures $500k NSW government grant
This upgrade will increase Jewish House's capacity by 60 per cent, growing from five to eight rooms at its Bondi location
Jewish House has been awarded $499,805 under the NSW Government’s Homelessness Innovation Fund to expand its crisis accommodation and food relief services in Sydney’s east.
The grant will fund conversion of Jewish House’s on-site garage into a dedicated food relief centre with refrigeration and improved street-level access for clients, including those with disabilities, alongside construction of three new crisis accommodation rooms above the centre.
This upgrade will increase Jewish House’s capacity by 60 per cent, growing from five to eight rooms at its Bondi location, while streamlining essential food support for individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity.
Jewish House CEO Rabbi Mendel Kastel said the organisation was seeing more people in crisis than ever before.
“People who are falling through the cracks due to rising rents, mental health challenges and the sheer shortage of appropriate options,” Kastel said. “This grant allows us to reach more people, respond more effectively, and do so with the dignity and accessibility every person deserves.”
The expansion is part of Jewish House’s wraparound model of care, which provides not only shelter but also daily case management, access to psychological and mental health support, and help navigating long-term housing pathways.
Jewish House estimates the three new rooms alone could save the government over $1.26 million annually, based on national data showing the financial benefits of pairing accommodation with integrated support services.
Member for Coogee Marjorie O’Neill welcomed the investment in local services.
“It’s fantastic to see this NSW Government support delivered to bring about improved homelessness services for the Eastern Suburbs community,” O’Neill said. “With increases in the number of people sleeping rough across our state, we’re making sure community housing providers are getting more support.”
Housing and homelessness minister Rose Jackson said Jewish House’s work was “a powerful example” of the fund’s impact in action.
The Homelessness Innovation Fund, announced as part of the 2024/25 NSW Budget, is a key initiative of the Minns Labor Government’s $6.6 billion Building Homes for NSW program. To date, the fund has supported 42 projects and delivered 504 new beds across NSW.