The Sydney business community’s call for a homelessness commissioner has grown louder as the number of people sleeping rough begins to rise again.

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou will today have a meeting in the Premier’s office to advocate for the new role — and for an unoccupied state government building in the CBD to be converted into crisis accommodation. Mr Nicolaou said a homelessness commissioner could improve co-ordination between charities and different levels of government.

He first raised the idea with the former Perrottet state government in mid 2022.

The latest “street count” by the City of Sydney council found 277 people were sleeping rough in the local area in February, up from 225 a year earlier. The result was the first rise since February 2019.

Mr Nicolaou said this was unacceptable.

“We are a wealthy nation and a wealthy city,” he said.

“We shouldn’t have this situation. You don’t want Sydney to end up like New York or San Francisco.”

In his meeting today, Mr Nicolaou will also push for a disused government building to be made available.