Homelessness In Australia Tony Keenan

Homelessness In Australia Australia has a population of 22,348,451 Approximately 500,000 indigenous Australians or 2.5% of population Australian Census counts homeless Australians 2006 – 105,000 homeless on census night an increase of 5%

Who is Homeless CENSUS Primary homeless – 16% Secondary homelessness – 63% Tertiary homelessness – 21% Primary homeless – 60% men, 40% women Secondary homelessness – 50% men, 50% women Tertiary homelessness - 72% men, 28% women

SAAP Data Supported Accommodation and Assistance Program (SAAP)- national program commenced in 1985 and has continued until 2008 Main source of funding for homeless support programs, with over 300 funded agencies In 2006 census, 19% of those who were homeless, were receiving support from a SAAP funded agency There were approximately 190,000 people receiving SAAP support in 2007

Indigenous Homelessness 4.2 of 10,000 of people sleeping rough in Vic 12 of 10,000 of people sleeping rough in Qld 68 of 10,000 of people sleeping rough in NT Approximately 75% of the total population of people sleeping rough in Australia are in rural and remote Australia In Victoria 1,359 or 62% of the 2204 people sleeping rough were in regional/country Victoria Indigenous Australians comprise 71% of the homeless population in remote areas, Indigenous children are over-represented in SAAP services and account for one quarter of all accompanying children under 18 (77 per 1,000 cw 14 per 1,000)

Children 69,100 accompanying children used SAAP services in – the largest client group 24,900 clients aged under 20 years 415 people under the age of 20 had a valid unmet accommodation request per day The 2006 census showed the number of families who were homeless increased by 17% on the 2001 figures and children by 22% The biggest cause of family homelessness is family violence

What does Hanover do? Established in 1964 Independent from government and religion Mission is specifically homelessness Focussed in Melbourne

Singles and Couples A range of programs including: Crisis accommodation and support at Southbank, Dandenong and into motels/rooming houses on other areas Drug and alcohol services at Southbank Support with employment and education Community links, sport, health arts

Women, Youth, Families and Children A range of programs including: Crisis accommodation and support at Melbourne and Dandenong and into motels/rooming houses on other areas Children's’ services, including tutor program Support with employment and education Community links, sport, health arts

Housing Crisis Accommodation Services 240 transitional houses 4 rooming houses 10 long term houses

Prevention, early intervention and getting started Help with establishing housing eg. First month’s rent and bond Help with shifting, getting furniture, appliances etc Help with education costs Help with heath and medicines Other financial assistance

Research and Advocacy Hanover has always had a strong commitment to basing our work on evidence More recent research has been into the following: Public understanding and perceptions of homelessness Longitudinal study into family homelessness