The NSW Government has been slammed for its response to an elderly homelessness inquiry. 

The government has released its response to the Coalition-led inquiry's findings, which included a recommendation that the age limit for access to the Housing Elderly Persons priority group be lowered from to 55 years to 45 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The government has chosen not to adopt this recommendation, while also knocking back calls to investigate targeted rent assistance and brokerage funds for older people, and to create a support service consisting of early intervention and crisis responses - similar to the Home at Last model in Victoria. 

Out of 40 recommendations from the inquiry, the government says it supports nine, offers in principle support to 24 and noted seven.

Minister for Families and Communities Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the government wants everyone in NSW to have a safe and stable place to call home.

“In 2022-23, we are investing $1.2 billion to tackle housing and homelessness through assertive homelessness outreach, early intervention and social and affordable housing across the state,” she said.

The government says it is aware of the growing trend of people becoming homeless for the first time later in life, and has invested $30 million for approximately 80 new small-scale social housing places.

During the inquiry, the Older Women's Network (OWN) told the government the current age limits for accessing services are “ageist”, “inhumane” and “cruel”.

OWN chief executive Yumi Lee has described the government's response to the recommendations as “callous”.

She said more and more older people, especially older women, are falling into housing insecurity and homelessness.

The OWN is calling for the creation of a specialist early intervention agency.