TWEED HEADS TO BE INCLUDED IN STATE-FIRST HOMELESSNESS COUNT

For the first time in New South Wales, the number of people sleeping rough in regional and rural areas will be counted in a bid to better understand the homelessness crisis.

Street counts will get underway in Tweed Heads and Newcastle over the next month, before the survey turns its eye to the state’s central west.

It comes in addition to a $10.7 million expansion of outreach services.

According to the last count in 2016, there were more than 400 rough-sleepers in Tweed Heads.