The Salvation Army and support for the homeless figures Support to more than 37,000 people experiencing homelessness. More than 309,800 sessions of care to people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness. More than 887,500 crisis beds to people experiencing homelessness.
In Australia, homelessness is increasing. Rising rents, skyrocketing home prices and inadequate housing supply are backing people against a corner and into homelessness. Our shrinking proportion of social housing is leaving families with nowhere to turn once they are pushed out of the mainstream housing market.
The latest data on homelessness
People rough sleeping represent just 7 percent of all people without a home in Australia.
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.
For thousands of Australians, the risk of losing their home is only one pay slip away. The high cost of rental housing combined with the lack of affordable housing options, particularly for low income earners, can force many families and individuals out of their homes with no place to live.
Age. Across both household and shelter types, nearly three-quarters of people experiencing homelessness were adults aged 25 or older (428,859 people), 18% were children under the age of 18 (106,364 children).
But, in Australia, homelessness is on the rise. Back in 2006, fewer than 90,000 people were homeless. Within a decade, that number has climbed by nearly one-third, to more than 116,000 people – a 10% increase. New South Wales has fared the worst.
The number of homeless people in Australia jumped by more than 14,000 — or 14 per cent — in the five years to 2016, according to census data which also reveals a "significant" increase in older women on the streets and a growing group living in overcrowded accommodation.
Homelessness can be caused by poverty, unemployment or by a shortage of affordable housing, or it can be triggered by family breakdown, mental illness, sexual assault, addiction, financial difficulty, gambling or social isolation.
Washington homeless population surpassed most states in 2022
Driving the news: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's annual homelessness assessment, released this week, shows that Washington is second only to California when it comes to its number of residents living outside with no shelter.
Under the NHHA, the Australian Government is improving funding for homelessness by ensuring homelessness funding is now ongoing and indexed. This will result in around $129 million from the NHHA being set aside for homelessness services this year. States and territories will match this funding.
Nigeria is also the country with the biggest homeless population in the world. With a homeless population of 24,400,000 out of 216 million citizens, Nigeria has a homeless rate of 11.3%.
Without a fixed address, someone experiencing homelessness is not able to access financial support through Centrelink.
NSW now has the highest rate of homelessness outside of the Northern Territory. While the increased rate of homelessness in NSW was across the board, young adults (19-24) fared worst, with a 45 per cent increase in the five years to 2016 — nearly three times the national increase for the same age group.
People who are homeless have roughly the same life expectancy as a resident of the United States in 1910. Today, overall life expectancy in the U.S. is 78.7 years, according to the World Bank. “There are too many, too young, and they're preventable,” said Paul Lewis with the Multnomah County Health Department.
The lack of secure and stable shelter, food, income, hygiene and physical and behavioral health care makes it nearly impossible to be healthy. The life expectancy of a person experiencing homelessness is just 48 years.
Black and Native Americans are more likely to become homeless than other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. Although Black people comprise 13 percent of the general population and 21.4 percent of those living in poverty, they account for 40 percent of the homeless population.
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.
Pre-pandemic, homelessness in Australia had climbed by 14% to around 290,000 people in the four years to 2018-19. Homelessness in Australia was temporarily suppressed by COVID-19 measures and had even fallen slightly in April-June 2020.
Couch Surfing: 15% of Australia's homeless population stay with their family and friends – often on the couch or lounge room floors. Boarding Houses: Affordable boarding houses are available to those who do not have their own homes.