The rate of homelessness decreased to 48 people per 10,000, from 50 in 2016. Of those experiencing homelessness in 2021: 68,516 (55.9%) were male, an increase of 1.6% from 2016. 53,974 (44.1%) were female, an increase of 10.1% from 2016.
What is the leading cause of homelessness in Australia? In Australia, domestic and family violence (DFV) is one of the main drivers of homelessness in Australia. Sadly, many children, women and men have experienced or have witnessed abusive and violent behaviour towards a partner, former partner or family member.
Harvard. Australian Bureau of Statistics 2023, Nearly 1 in 200 people homeless on Census night in 2021, ABS, viewed 14 June 2023, <https://www.abs.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/nearly-1-200-people-homeless-census-night-2021>.
From 2011 to 2016, the number of homeless people living in boarding houses increased by 17%, from around 14,900 to 17,500 persons. In 2016, the Northern Territory had the highest rate of homeless people (about 600 persons per 10,000 population) and Tasmania the lowest (32 per 10,000).
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.
A majority of people experiencing homelessness long-term in Australia are found in the large cities of Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth. It is estimated that on any given night approximately 116,000 people will be homeless and many more are living in insecure housing, "one step away from being homeless".
Homelessness can be caused by:
Family violence. A shortage of affordable housing. Physical and/or mental health issues.
Females accounted for 81.7% of the 6,067 increase of people experiencing homelessness in 2021. The rate of homelessness for males decreased in 2021 to 55 males per 10,000 (from 58 in 2016), while the rate for females increased in 2021 to 42 females per 10,000 (from 41 in 2016).
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.
Ages of people currently experiencing homelessness:
Under 12 – 14% 12-18 – 8% 19-24 – 18% 25-34 – 22%
Women make up 53,974 of Australia's homeless population, an increase of 10.1 per cent or nearly 5000 from the 2016 Census. Women accounted for 81.7 per cent of the increase in people experiencing homelessness in 2021. By comparison the number of men experiencing homelessness increased by only 1.6 per cent.
Childhood is a critical time, affecting our health, development, and setting the foundations for the rest of our lives. Sadly, around 19,400 children aged 0-14 are homeless in Australia.
While the number of children aged 0–14 living in homeless situations increased slightly from 19,100 in 2006 to 19,400 in 2016, the proportion of children living in homeless situations remained relatively stable between 2006 (0.5%) and 2016 (0.4%).
Causes of homelessness
Domestic violence is the single biggest cause of homelessness in Australia. What this means is that homelessness is a product of many other human rights abuses.
Boarding Houses: Affordable boarding houses are available to those who do not have their own homes. Unfortunately, these dwellings are usually not safe and secure with many people sharing facilities. Other temporary lodgings: Some homeless people find themselves living in cheap motels and caravan parks.
Pre-pandemic, homelessness in Australia had climbed by 14% to around 290,000 people in the four years to 2018-19.
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.
Syria has the world's highest homeless rate with one-third – roughly 29.6% – of the country's 22 million population being homeless. Syria continues to have the worst displacement situation in the world.
In March 2020, the NSW Government provided $14 million to immediately house people experiencing homelessness through the Temporary Accommodation program. Additionally, the 'Together Home ' program will operate for two years with $36.1 million invested to support people sleeping rough into stable accommodation.
Similarly, a survey of queer, Australian youth, found that 23.6% of the over six thousand respondents had experienced homelessness, with a 11.5% experiencing homelessness in the past year (Hill et al., 2021).
Older adults, those age 65 and older, represent the fastest growing group of homeless, and by 2030 their numbers are expected to triple, according to Dr.
Older Women are the fastest growing group of homeless people in Australia. Whichever definition of homelessness is being used, homeless older women have tended to remain hidden from the official statistics for a long time. In 2019, women over 55 were the fastest growing group of homeless people in Australia.
Catholic Social Teachings - Homelessness
Having adequate shelter is a basic human right; a right that the Church affirms as a key part of respecting and recognising our personhood. Ensuring everyone is able to access a safe, stable and adequate home is one part of working for the common good.
Australian policy interest in homelessness started in the early 1970s with the passage of the Homeless Persons Assistance Act (1974).
Mental health issues and other health problems. Problematic alcohol, drug or substance use. Employment difficulties and unemployment. Problematic gambling.