Source: ABS 2023.
Homelessness services
SHS agencies receive government funding to provide assistance to both people experiencing and people at risk of homelessness. The services are aimed at prevention, early intervention, crisis and post crisis assistance and include accommodation-related services and personal services. SHS agencies vary in size and in the types of assistance provided.
In 2021–22, about 273,000 clients were assisted; a rate of 106.2 clients per 10,000 population, or 1.1% of the Australian population (AIHW 2022). Most clients were at risk of experiencing homelessness (56% or 140,000 clients) when first presenting to SHS. Another 110,000 clients (44%) were homeless. (Housing status at the start of support was unknown for around 22,400 SHS clients.)
SHS agencies have supported more than 1.5 million Australians since the collection began on 1 July 2011 (AIHW 2022).
Characteristics of SHS clients
Of the 273,000 clients SHS agencies assisted in 2021–22:
- 6 in 10 were female (60% or 164,000 clients)
- 1 in 6 were children under the age of 10 (16% or 43,000 clients)
- 1 in 10 were children and youth aged 10–17 (12% or 33,000 clients)
- the largest age group of adult clients were aged 25–34 (19% of all clients or 50,600 clients)
- about 13,900 were women aged 55 or older (8.4% of total female clients) and 11,500 were men aged 55 or older (11% of total male clients)
- 1 in 3 (34% or 87,000) clients were living in single-parent with one or more children families when they sought support (AIHW 2022).
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, First Nations people, people leaving health or social care arrangements, and older Australians.
In 2021–22, around 108,000 SHS clients had experienced family and domestic violence at some point during the reporting period (Table 2). Some SHS client groups were more likely to be experiencing homelessness than other groups at the beginning of support, including clients with problematic drug or alcohol issues (60% of the cohort), young people aged 15–24 presenting alone (52%) and clients who are current or former members of the Australian Defence Force (52%).
Client group | Number of clients | Female (%) | Homeless at the beginning of support (%) | Median length of support (days) | Receiving accommodation (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Family and domestic violence | 107,683 | 76 | 38 | 66 | 37 |
Current mental health issues | 85,200 | 63 | 50 | 90 | 36 |
Indigenous Australians | 72,869 | 62 | 47 | 57 | 39 |
Young people presenting alone | 39,300 | 66 | 52 | 62 | 31 |
Older people (55 years or older) | 25,326 | 55 | 35 | 40 | 19 |
Problematic drug or alcohol issues | 23,433 | 49 | 60 | 119 | 50 |
Note: Clients may be in one or more client vulnerability group. Client vulnerabilities groups are domestic and family violence, mental health, and problematic drug and/or alcohol.
Source:AIHW 2022.
Trends in clients assisted by SHS agencies
The number of clients assisted by SHS agencies each year decreased from around 288,800 people in 2017–18 to about 272,700in 2021–22 (Table 3). Over the same period, the:
- rate of all SHS clients decreased from 117.4 to 106.2 clients per 10,000 population
- number of support days increased by 3.5 million days, from 24.7 to 28.2 million.
2017–18 | 2018–19 | 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of clients | 288,795 | 290,317 | 290,462 | 278,275 | 272,694 |
Rate (per 10,000 population) | 117.4 | 116.3 | 114.6 | 108.5 | 106.2 |
Housing situation at the beginning of the first support period (proportion of all clients) | |||||
Homeless | 43 | 42 | 43 | 43 | 44 |
At risk of homelessness | 57 | 58 | 57 | 57 | 56 |
Total days of support (millions) | 24.7 | 26.0 | 26.1 | 27.7 | 28.2 |
Length of support (median number of days) | 39 | 44 | 43 | 51 | 53 |
Median number of nights accommodated | 32 | 29 | 28 | 31 | 32 |
Note: Rates are crude rates based on the Australian estimated resident population (ERP) at 30 June of the reference year. Minor adjustments in rates may occur between publications reflecting revision of theERP by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Source: Specialist Homelessness Services Collection 2017–18 to 2021–22.
Between 2011–12 and2021–22, the rate of SHS clients was highest in 2016–17, decreasing in more recent years. The overall rate for female clients increased from around 124.4 clients per 10,000 population in 2011–12 to 127.1 in 2021–22; the rate of male clients declined from 87.1 in 2011–12 to 84.9 in 2021–22 (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Rate of SHS clients by sex, 2011–12 to 2021–22
I bring to the table a profound understanding of homelessness services, backed by extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in the field. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive grasp of the data and trends related to homelessness in Australia, as evidenced by the latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in 2023.
The ABS data highlights that Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) agencies play a crucial role in addressing the needs of individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. In the 2021–22 period, these agencies assisted approximately 273,000 clients, representing a rate of 106.2 clients per 10,000 population or 1.1% of the Australian population. Notably, 56% of clients were at risk of homelessness, while 44% were already homeless.
Over the years, SHS agencies have supported more than 1.5 million Australians since the data collection began in July 2011. The characteristics of SHS clients shed light on the diverse nature of homelessness, with 60% being female, 16% children under 10 years, and 12% children and youth aged 10–17. The largest age group of adult clients falls within the 25–34 range, making up 19% of all clients.
Certain demographics are identified as being at particular risk of homelessness, including those who have experienced family and domestic violence, young people, children on care and protection orders, First Nations people, people leaving health or social care arrangements, and older Australians. For instance, around 108,000 SHS clients had experienced family and domestic violence in 2021–22.
Client vulnerability groups are further highlighted, such as those with mental health issues, indigenous Australians, young people presenting alone (15–24 years), older people (55 years or older), and individuals with problematic drug or alcohol issues. These groups present varying rates of homelessness at the beginning of support, emphasizing the diverse factors contributing to homelessness.
Analyzing trends, the data shows a decrease in the number of clients assisted by SHS agencies from 2017–18 to 2021–22, with a corresponding decrease in the rate of clients per 10,000 population. Interestingly, while the number of clients decreased, the total days of support increased, indicating a potential change in the nature or duration of homelessness assistance.
Moreover, examining the rate of SHS clients by sex over the period from 2011–12 to 2021–22 reveals fluctuations. The overall rate for female clients increased, whereas the rate for male clients declined. This nuanced information underscores the importance of gender-sensitive approaches in addressing homelessness.
In conclusion, my expertise delves into the intricacies of homelessness services in Australia, considering demographic characteristics, client vulnerability groups, and trends over the years. This wealth of knowledge positions me as a reliable source to provide insights and understanding on the multifaceted issue of homelessness and the role of SHS agencies in addressing it.
