The “Newtopian Dream Team” are fighting against homelessness, after a noticeable rise in homelessness in Newtown. The latest street count identified 28 rough sleepers, a huge jump from just two people last year. Volunteers at this initiative run by the Newtown Neighbourhood Centre will be given hands-on training to reach out to those in need. Along with going out on outreach missions, the volunteers would be able to empower people with ongoing help, and increasing the empathy between locals and the homeless within the community.
The dismantling of tents in Martin Place and Belmore Park may have had an influence on the number of homeless people in Newtown, with a possibility that homeless people may have shifted from the city to other parts of Sydney, like Newtown. The number of homeless across the Inner West has increased from 2003 in 2011 to 2215 in 2016, with NNC reporting that they had a 43 per cent increase in demand for their services.