The NSW Regional Homelessness and Housing Support Summit is the first of its kind dedicated to preventing homelessness and housing stress in regional NSW and provided those within the industry the opportunity to come together to find long term solutions.

Some of the the organisations included Family and Community Services, Mission Australia, Orana Support Service, Housing Plus and Yfoundations.

Chief executive officer of Orana Support Service Peter Gallagher said OSS runs two refugee services – the Women’s Refuge and Sturt House - for people in Dubbo, Narromine and Wellington.

He said both services run at very high capacities.

“This summit is about all of the organisations working together to have a services wide approach to dealing with the problem. It’s got to be a team effort,” he said.

Mr Gallagher said homelessness can affect anyone of any age, and a trend that OSS have been seeing is older women seeking help.

Domestic violence, drug and alcohol dependency and mental health issues were just some of the contributing factors to homelessness and that early intervention was needed to help break the cycle.

“We need to try and put services in place to help address the underlying issues (that cause homelessness),” Mr Gallagher said.

“Then support these people through education and employment, which then gives them the best opportunity to break the cycle.”

Mr Gallagher said another main cause for homelessness in Dubbo was housing affordability.

“People who rely on Centrelink payments can’t afford accommodation by themselves, so they have to go into shared or social housing. Rent is high and people just can’t afford it,” Mr Gallagher said.

Gargi Gangully, director of business and innovation reform with Dubbo FACS said the summit was a chance for all of the organisations to come together and find solutions.

“It (housing) is a big need in Dubbo. There is hidden homelessness in Dubbo. All of our specialist services are always filled to capacity,” she said.

Homelessness NSW CEO Katherine McKernan said the overall message was for people to look after one another.

“Homelessness in NSW is increasing because the cost of housing isn’t affordable,” she said.