The service's predecessor was the Rumbalara Youth Refuge established by Gosford City Council in 1985.
[4] Coast Shelter started operations from the site of the Rumbalara Youth Refuge in Gosford, New South Wales.
In December 1991, funding cuts led the council to close the service, however Laurie Maher approached Jim Grainger of the Catholic Church's Centacare Broken Bay to take over operation of the site.
Today, Coast Shelter operates nine crisis accommodation services, two community centres, and provides other forms of support for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness or domestic & family violence.
[5] Ultimately, Coast Shelter secured the management of the majority of its sites along with additional crisis accommodation services in the region.