The number of homeless adults in Australia rose
between 2001 and 2006.
Image: iStockphoto

There were 104,676 homeless men, women and children in Australia on the night of the 2006 census, according the Australian Bureau of Statistics report ‘Counting the Homeless’, released on 4 September 2008.

The report, co-authored by Associate Professor David Mackenzie from Swinburne University and Associate Professor Chris Chamberlain from RMIT, provides valuable new information on the state of homelessness across the nation.

In Australia, the definition of homelessness includes rough sleepers, but also people in all forms of temporary shelter as well as people in single rooms in boarding houses without facilities or tenure.

According to the report, in 2006, there were 16,375 people sleeping rough or in improvised dwellings, 46,856 people staying temporarily with friends, acquaintances or relatives, 19,849 in accommodation provided by the Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP) and 21,596 in boarding house rooms.

These new figures compare with the 99,900 Australians that were identified as homeless in the 2001 census. According to the report: “the number of people in different sectors of the population was roughly similar on census night 2001 and 2006."

While the characteristics of the homeless population have not changed significantly, and the patterns of difference between states have remained much the same, the ABS report highlights some key differences between sub-groups within the homeless population.

• The number of homeless young people between 12-18 years of age who are on their own has fallen by 20.8 per cent between 2001 and 2006. The researchers point out that for young people ‘Australia’s early intervention capacity has developed considerably over the past 10 years and particularly over the past five years’. They go on to say that ‘early intervention appears to account for most of the decrease in youth homelessness since 2001’.
• The number of homeless families increased from 22,944 in 2001 to 26,790 in 2006 – an increase of 16.8 per cent. This is mainly an ‘increase in the number of families entering SAAP to escape domestic violence, combined with the shortage of affordable housing and the absence of early intervention initiatives that account for the increase in family homelessness’.
• The number of homeless adults increased from 54,356 in 2001 to 59,995 in 2006 - an increase of 10.4 per cent. Many of these adults experience long periods of homelessness or move in and out of homelessness, and have complex problems. The report observes that this group needs ‘assistance to find appropriate, affordable housing and long-term support to maintain that accommodation’.

In light of these new statistics, Mackenzie believes that it is vital that the government takes action on homelessness – something that needs to be reflected in the homelessness White Paper due out later this year.

“A national strategy for action is crucial. Major initiatives around early intervention, supported accommodation and affordable housing are required in order to reduce the size of Australia’s homeless population,” he said.