Notes on the data: Homelessness

Homelessness - Estimated number of people experiencing homelessness, 2021

Policy context: Access to safe, adequate housing is central to the health and wellbeing of individuals and families. Secure and affordable housing is the basis for social connectedness and a contributor to the social determinants of health and wellbeing [1]. The physical and mental health of people who are homeless is generally worse than that of the general population and they are more likely to have higher rates of emergency re-admission, hospital usage, and more frequent emergency department visits [2]

References

Australia’s welfare 2023: data insights. Available from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-welfare/australias-welfare-2023-data-insights/contents/homelessness-and-housing-affordability; accessed 11 September 2023
Mitchell, E., Waring, T., Ahern, E. et. al. Predictors and consequences of homelessness in whole-population observational studies that used administrative data: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 23, 1610 (2023) http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16503-z>http://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-16503-z

Notes: The data presented are estimates for people experiencing homelessness on Census night, expressed as a standardised rate per 10,000 people, based on the Australian standard. The data include people:

living in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out
living in supported accommodation for the homeless
staying temporarily with other households
living in boarding houses
living in 'severely' crowded dwellings

The number of people experiencing homelessness may be affected by measures put in place by Local and State Governments in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which include:

assisting people sleeping rough - or in crisis situations - to access emergency accommodation in hotels / motels
additional short-term or emergency accommodation
additional programs and accommodation for women and children at risk of / or experiencing homelessness, from family and domestic violence
supporting safe housing exits for individuals and families who received short-term hotel / motel accommodation

COVID-19 lockdown restrictions also made data collection difficult in a number of regions, so data were collected from other sources, or at other times.

Geography: Data available by Population Health Area, Local Government Area, Primary Health Network, Quintile of socioeconomic disadvantage of area and Quintiles within PHNs, and Remoteness Area

Numerator: Estimated number of people experiencing homelessness

Denominator: Total population, place of enumeration

Detail of analysis: Standardised rate per 10,000 population, based on the Australian Standard

Source: Compiled by PHIDU based on the ABS Census of Population and Housing, August 2021