Common causes of homelessness are; Domestic and family violence. Sudden life changes that trigger homelessness. Lack of affordable and social housing.
Homelessness can be caused by:
A shortage of affordable housing. Physical and/or mental health issues. Unemployment or job loss.
There are no internationally agreed upon definitions of homelessness, making it difficult to compare levels of homelessness across countries. A majority of people experiencing homelessness long-term in Australia are found in the large cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
The most common Homelessness definition identifies three types of homelessness: primary, secondary and tertiary.
122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021. Males made up 55.9% of people experiencing homelessness; females made up 44.1%. 23.0% of all people experiencing homelessness were aged from 12 to 24 years.
Youth homelessness facts:
19% housing crisis. 16% Family and domestic violence. 12% relationship/family breakdown.
Causes of homelessness
Domestic violence is the single biggest cause of homelessness in Australia.
Older women are the fastest growing group to experience homelessness in Australia. The 2016 Census reported that the number of women over 55 experiencing homelessness increased by 31% to 6,866 compared to 2011.
Is being homeless a crime? First, being homeless is not a criminal offence anywhere in Australia. If such a law were passed it would breach multiple long-standing legal principles. It would also breach various domestic and international charters and covenants on citizenship as well as human and civil rights.
A person may be at risk of homelessness if they are experiencing one or more of a range of factors or triggers that can contribute to homelessness. Risk factors include: Financial stress (including due to loss of income, low income, gambling, change of family circumstances).
The Community Services Directorate oversees homelessness policy; housing assistance policy; housing sector regulation; public housing asset management; public housing growth and renewal program; and social and affordable housing delivery through Housing ACT.
People experiencing homelessness
On Census night in 2016, more than 116,000 people were estimated to be homeless in Australia—58% were male, 21% were aged 25–34 and 20% identified as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians (ABS 2018). Around 51,000 (44%) were living in severely crowded dwellings.
Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows homelessness is surging. New figures show nearly 123,000 people were without a home on Census night 2021 - around 6,000 more than at the previous count in 2016. It represents a 5.2 per cent lift in homelessness over five years.
Many people become homeless because they can no longer afford the rent. And for many, life events like a relationship breaking down, losing a job, mental or physical health problems, or substance misuse put people under considerable strain.
ADDICTION
68% of U.S. cities report that addiction is a their single largest cause of homelessness. * “Housing First” initiatives are well intentioned, but can be short-sighted. A formerly homeless addict is likely to return to homelessness unless they deal with the addiction.
The main causes of youth homelessness are domestic and family violence, poverty and the housing crisis. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 35% of young people presenting alone for homelessness services across Australia have experienced domestic and family violence.
The act of begging constitutes a criminal offence in most Australian States and Territories including Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory with penalties ranging from a fine of $50 to two years' imprisonment.
Eligible recipients who have difficulty managing their finances to the end of a fortnight may include those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with mental health issues, or gambling and/or substance addictions. Some victims of domestic violence may also be offered weekly payments.
Homelessness can be solved through providing more safe and affordable housing, ensuring people's incomes allow them to afford housing and other essentials, and providing support where needed for people to get into and sustain a home.
Australian policy interest in homelessness started in the early 1970s with the passage of the Homeless Persons Assistance Act (1974).
How many children are homeless? According to the ABS Census, around 19,400 children (0.4%) aged 0–14 experienced homelessness on Census night in 2016. These children made up around 17% of the homeless population.
California, New York and Florida have the largest homeless populations. Across the three heavily populated states, more than 270,000 people are homeless — nearly half of the U.S. homeless population.
Seniors. Seniors are the fastest growing unhoused population. From 2017 to 2021, California's overall senior population grew by 7% but the number of people 55 and older who sought homelessness services increased 84%.
03 May 2023
Australia's most recent Census revealed more than 122,000 Australians were experiencing homelessness.
Such lists consist of: food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, personal care items, essential furnishings, transportation, communication, laundry services, education, sanitation and insurance (Sarlo 2006).