Demand for community services across the ACT has soared amid rising living costs, housing pressures, and worsening mental health, according to new research from the ACT Council of Social Services (ACTCOSS).
Their 2025 State of the ACT Community Sector Survey found that 83 per cent of community organisations reported an increase in demand during 2024, up from 67 per cent two years earlier.
“This survey’s findings demonstrate the long-term worsening of socioeconomic conditions facing many Canberrans, with community organisations playing a critical role in responding to basic community needs,” ACTCOSS CEO Dr Devin Bowles said. “But the sector can’t keep up with this increasing demand.” (See our recent interview with Dr Bowles.)
The top three drivers of this increased demand are cost-of-living pressures, lack of access to affordable housing, and/or experiences of homelessness and inadequate mental health support.
Community organisations are also supporting clients with more complex needs. In 2024, 76 per cent of organisations reported a rise in client complexity, up from 69 per cent in 2022. This is due to the increase in mental health conditions; insecure housing, overcrowding and/or homelessness; poverty; family and domestic violence; and difficulty accessing government supports.
The number of organisations observing an increase in levels of poverty and disadvantage increased from 56 per cent of respondents in 2022 to a “staggering” 82 per cent in 2024.
“Despite the ACT’s reputation as a wealthy jurisdiction, the survey reveals a deeply concerning surge in poverty across the ACT,” Dr Bowles said.
More than half (52 per cent) of community organisations told ACTCOSS that the number of clients their service couldn’t support had increased; more than half reported longer waiting times.
One in six (16 per cent) closed their waiting lists because they did not have the resources to take on more clients. 27 per cent turned people away. One third referred clients to other organisations, many also under strain.
81 per cent of community organisations identified lack of affordable housing and homelessness as a key factor driving more people through their doors, and three-quarters said housing instability drives greater complexity in people’s needs.
“This survey makes clear that the housing affordability crisis is one of the biggest factors driving demand across Canberra’s community services,” Corinne Dobson, CEO of ACT Shelter, said. “When people can’t find or afford a home, every other challenge — from mental health to family violence — becomes harder to manage. We urgently need sustained investment in social and affordable housing, alongside more joined-up supports that keep people housed and prevent crisis before it starts.” (See our recent interview with Ms Dobson.)
“Raising rates of mental illness points to the need for further investment in prevention and early intervention services,” Lisa Kelley, CEO of the Mental Health Community Coalition (MHCC) ACT, said. “We have an unmet need for services that can support recovery and community engagement for people who have experienced an episode of mental ill-health. Without investment in this, we will continue to see increasing demand and a lack of access. We recognise and thank the community mental health providers who work hard every day to support as many people as possible”.
“The survey’s findings reflect the resilience and dedication of community organisations, but also highlight the need for thoughtful, long-term investment to ensure no one in the ACT is left behind.”
“ACTCOSS welcomes the opportunity to work with government and stakeholders to strengthen the community sector’s capacity to meet growing demand,” Dr Bowles said.
Government services rely on the community sector: one in three organisations receive urgent referrals from government services outside normal business hours.
ACTCOSS will release the full State of the Community Sector Report later this year.
