Homelessness In Australia
Tony Keenan
Homelessness In Australia
• Australia has a population of 22,348,451
• Approximately 500,000 indigenous
Australians or 2.5% of population
• Australian Census counts homeless
Australians
• 2006 – 105,000 homeless on census night
an increase of 5%
Who is Homeless
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CENSUS
Primary homeless – 16%
Secondary homelessness – 63%
Tertiary homelessness – 21%
Primary homeless – 60% men, 40% women
Secondary homelessness – 50% men, 50%
women
• Tertiary homelessness - 72% men, 28% women
SAAP Data
• Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program
(SAAP)- national program commenced in 1985 and has
continued until 2008
• Main source of funding for homeless support programs,
with over 300 funded agencies
• In 2006 census, 19% of those who were homeless,
were receiving support from a SAAP funded agency
• There were approximately 190,000 people receiving
SAAP support in 2007
Indigenous Homelessness
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4.2 of 10,000 of people sleeping rough in Vic
12 of 10,000 of people sleeping rough in Qld
68 of 10,000 of people sleeping rough in NT
Approximately 75% of the total population of people sleeping rough
in Australia are in rural and remote Australia
• In Victoria 1,359 or 62% of the 2204 people sleeping rough were in
regional/country Victoria
• Indigenous Australians comprise 71% of the homeless population in
remote areas,
• Indigenous children are over-represented in SAAP services and
account for one quarter of all accompanying children under 18 (77
per 1,000 cw 14 per 1,000)
Children
• 69,100 accompanying children used SAAP
services in 2006 -2007 – the largest client group
• 24,900 clients aged under 20 years
• 415 people under the age of 20 had a valid
unmet accommodation request per day
• The 2006 census showed the number of families
who were homeless increased by 17% on the
2001 figures and children by 22%
• The biggest cause of family homelessness is
family violence
What does Hanover do?
• Established in 1964
• Independent from
government and
religion
• Mission is specifically
homelessness
• Focussed in
Melbourne
Singles and Couples
• A range of programs including:
• Crisis accommodation and support at
Southbank, Dandenong and into
motels/rooming houses on other areas
• Drug and alcohol services at Southbank
• Support with employment and education
• Community links, sport, health arts
Women, Youth, Families and
Children
• A range of programs including:
• Crisis accommodation and support at
Melbourne and Dandenong and into
motels/rooming houses on other areas
• Children's’ services, including tutor program
• Support with employment and education
• Community links, sport, health arts
Housing
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Crisis Accommodation Services
240 transitional houses
4 rooming houses
10 long term houses
Prevention, early intervention and
getting started
• Help with establishing housing eg. First
month’s rent and bond
• Help with shifting, getting furniture,
appliances etc
• Help with education costs
• Help with heath and medicines
• Other financial assistance
Research and Advocacy
• Hanover has always had a strong commitment
to basing our work on evidence
• More recent research has been into the
following:
• Public understanding and perceptions of
homelessness
• Longitudinal study into family homelessness