Domestic and family violence is a major cause of homelessness. Without access to emergency accommodation or support networks, vulnerable parents and their children often have nowhere else to go in times of crisis. When Amy and her three children fled their abusive home, the family moved into a cheap rental property.
Some of the factors that cause or encourage children to leave the family homes before they are ready for independence [are]... marital breakdown... physical neglect, sexual abuse, sibling conflict, often arising from reconstituted families. .. There is drug and alcohol abuse and increasing solvent abuse.
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%).
The top reasons young people between 15-24 need homelessness help are: 37% Housing Crisis. 25% Domestic and Family Violence. 15% Inadequate/ inappropriate dwelling conditions.
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. Domestic violence is the single biggest cause of homelessness in Australia.
Of the 122,494 people experiencing homelessness in 2021: 25,504 (20.8%) were aged from 25 to 34 years. 17,646 (14.4%) were aged under 12 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".
Australians known to be at particular risk of homelessness include those who have experienced family and domestic violence, young people, children on care and protection orders, Indigenous Australians, people leaving health or social care arrangements, and Australians aged 55 or older.
Los Angeles has the highest chronic homeless population in the nation. One third of all homeless people are children, under the age of 18. In Los Angeles County there are 65,484 students without homes.
She explains that children without a safe home may experience illnesses, miss out on vaccinations and suffer from dental hygiene issues. “Children who are homeless may have low nutrition levels and poor sleep patterns due to a lack of routine and constant anxiety,” explains Louise.
Mental health issues
Comparing youth who were or are homeless, to youth who are not and have never been homeless, homeless youth are roughly 3.5 times more likely to experience mental health problems. These include common problems like depression and anxiety as well as self-harming behaviours like burning and cutting.
While vagrancy is no longer illegal in Australia, the related practice of begging is still a crime in most Australian jurisdictions.
What is Australia's homeless population? On Census night in 2021, statistics show 122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness. That's an increase of 5.2 per cent since the 2016 Census.
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.
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.
Overall, the average life expectancy of homeless people is 42 to 52 years old. If assistance isn't available until someone reaches 65 years old, then he or she may be dead by then.
1. On any given night, around 40,000 young Australians are homeless or at risk of homelessness. But it's likely that the real number of young people living without safe and stable housing is much higher.
Short Supply of Shelter Beds
Individuals experiencing homelessness often choose not to wait in line for a shelter bed. This is common in places with insufficient beds as there are high chances of not getting one.
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.
National survey data reflects that homelessness affects youth living in rural, suburban and urban communities at similar rates. Youth homelessness is a complex issue that intersects with multiple public and private entities.
Without continued schooling, children can fall behind in their learning, experience mental health strain and have lower self-esteem. Adverse health effects: Children and families without a home are also likely to skip meals and experience food insecurity or nutritional deficiencies.
A report released in August 2020 by HAAG and Social Ventures Australia finds that the number of older women at risk of homelessness in Australia is a staggering 405,000. This includes: 165,000 women aged between 45 – 55 years and. 240,000 women aged 55 years and over.