October 28, 2026 — 7:45pm

Women fleeing domestic violence are being asked whether they can sleep in their cars, while homelessness workers are handing out tents instead of accommodation as Australia’s housing crisis pushes frontline services towards collapse.

A damning new report prepared for the Albanese government reveals almost two-thirds of homelessness providers are turning away desperate Australians they would once have helped, with some rejecting as many people as they take in.

Homeless services are giving out tents instead of accommodation. Justin McManus

The findings expose a system so overwhelmed by soaring rents, chronic housing shortages and inadequate funding that it is increasingly unable to offer even emergency accommodation to people facing life on the streets.

The research, titled Breaking the Firestorm, by the University of NSW, found 91 per cent of frontline services had experienced increased demand over the past two years, while just 0.4 per cent reported a decline.…