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

• 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 • 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

• 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