1. Homelessness in Australia

2. Who?
Many assume homelessness means sleeping on the streets. In fact, homelessness means that you don’t have a permanent, safe or secure place to live.

3. Who?

4. The Homeless population in Australia include men, women and children
Who?
The Homeless population in Australia include men, women and children

5. Who?

6. Who?

7. Who?
Often women and children are left homeless after fleeing domestic violence situations

8. Who?

9. Who?
Only 6% of the homeless population in Australia ‘sleep rough’ (on the streets, in parks etc.) Two thirds of these are male.

10. 75% of people in Australian boarding houses are men
Who?
75% of people in Australian boarding houses are men

11. Who?
The current waiting list for public housing in Australia is 16 years long

12. Who?
There are also ‘invisible’ homeless, often young people who are ‘couch surfing’. These people have no fixed address and tend to stay with friends and others for short periods of time, taking advantage of anything given to them.

13. Who?
There were over 7500 homeless youth in NSW in 2011 Only 1/3 of these find places in homeless shelters

14. Who?
Others stay in overcrowded shelters and boarding houses

15. How many?
There are over homeless people in Australia in Over of these stay in emergency accommodation each night.

16. How many?
Almost children under 10 are homeless in Australia. Approximately 400 of these sleep rough each night.

17. How many?
The NSW government has recently privatised the public housing sector.
This has resulted in a 16% increase in homeless people in Sydney over the last 12 months.
support/homelessness/street-count

18. Why?
NSW statistics suggests the following numbers in relation to why people are homeless: 34% - Domestic violence and relationship breakdowns 25% - Accommodation issues – housing shortages 20% - Financial hardship – unemployment, mortgage stress 8% - Health reasons – drug abuse, mental health 13% - Other – custody issues, discrimination

19. Why?
For many, the cost of housing is out of reach: In Western Australia in 2003 the median rent was approximately 35% of the minimum weekly wage, in 2014 this figure was closer to 75%.

20. Why?
In 2013 Anglicare Australia reported that less than 1% of rental properties were affordable for anyone on an aged or disability support pension.

21. Why?
It is estimated 3000 returned soldiers sleep rough each night in Australia
homelessness-epidemic/

22. Dangers and difficulties
Homeless people who live ‘rough’ (on streets, in parks etc.) face many challenges:

23. Dangers and difficulties
Hunger – poverty ensures that, for a homeless person, every meal is a struggle. Many charity organisations work hard to aid these people using limited funds

24. Dangers and difficulties
Violence – the homeless often stay in parks and on streets in areas that are dangerous and places them open to bashings, robberies etc.

25. Dangers and difficulties
Victorian Statistics suggest that in 2013 “more than 75% of Melbourne homeless were victims of physical violence”

26. Dangers and difficulties
Illness – living outdoors and having poor nutrition means that the homeless are susceptible to illness however they rarely have the ability to seek medical treatment or medication

27. Charity Organisations
Many charity organisations work to help the homeless.

28. The St Vincent de Paul Society is one example of a Catholic charity agency who work to feed the homeless

29. Charity Organisations
The CEO sleepout, organised by St Vincent De Paul society provides business people with the opportunity to raise awareness, fundraise and experience life on the street.

31. Charity Organisations
Tilbuster Station is a small farm in Northern NSW

32. Charity Organisations
Tilbuster Station gives homeless young people a place to stay and an opportunity to gain skills whilst working on a rural property.

33. Charity Organisations
The ‘Our Backyard’ project provides a safe carpark, toilets, hot showers, food, pillows and blankets for people who are living in their car.

34. Charity Organisations

35. Challenges for Society
As individuals we can donate money, food or clothing to relevant charities.

36. Challenges for Society
We can also donate our time and assistance to such agencies

37. Challenges for Society
COAG (Council of Australian Governments) provided over $1.1 billion of Commonwealth and State resources over the four years up to 2013 to help fund new social housing and to target specialist homelessness projects across the country.

38. Help
* Homeless people report feeling no self-worth and having no place in society * No homeless person set out for their life to turn out this way

39. Help
“Walking by and turning your head is probably the worst thing to do to someone who really needs to just be acknowledged or smiled at” Nathan, 23

40. Help
“I’m on my own. Because of this predicament, I don’t let my children know where I am. This is embarrassing…..it’s degrading and embarrassing” Warren, 51

41. What can I do?
As Catholics we are taught to share compassion. We all have an opportunity to assist the homeless in Australia

42. What can I do? Simple tasks such as: Raising awareness Fundraising
Donating
will make a difference to the life of someone in our community

43. What can I do?
Any small amount of help will always make a difference

44. More Info
work/Homelessness/w.salvationarmy.org.au