Australian Homelessness Monitor 2018

Launch Housing has commissioned the Australian Homelessness Monitor 2018 (the Monitor), for this first-of-its-kind authoritative insight into the current state of homelessness in Australia.

The Monitor is an in-depth, independent longitudinal analysis examining the changes in the scale and nature of homelessness in Australia, as well as how social, economic and policy drivers influence these changes.

It brings together numerous existing data sets, in addition to in-depth interviews with a wide range of policymakers, service provider representatives and advocacy organisations; as well as an online survey of service providers.

 

About the Authors

The research was carried out by researchers from the University of New South Wales and the University of Queensland: Professor Hal Pawson (City Futures Research Centre, University of NSW Sydney); Associate Professor Cameron Parsell (Institute for Social Science Research – University of Queensland, Brisbane); Professor Peter Saunders (Social Policy Research Centre University of NSW Sydney); Dr Trish Hill (Social Policy Research Centre, University of NSW Sydney); and Dr Edgar Liu (City Futures Research Centre, University of NSW Sydney).

The Monitor is inspired by the ground-breaking UK Homelessness Monitor commissioned since 2011 by Crisis UK and funded by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

An in-depth overview of the findings, as well as the full report, can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

 

Key findings

Australia’s homelessness problem is getting worse:

  1. Homelessness in Australia is outpacing population growth.
  2. Rough sleeping levels are increasing.
  3. Severe overcrowding is the largest group.
  4. Older Australians increasingly experience homelessness.
  5. Indigenous Australians are overrepresented.
  6. There’s increased demand for homelessness specialist services.
  7. The main reasons for seeking assistance are changing.

Read about the more detailed findings, the complex causes of homelessness and more in the overview document and full report below.

The Solutions

Housing, welfare and employment support policy and homelessness programs represent significant opportunities to demonstrably reduce homelessness, and improve the housing and life outcomes of people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness. See pages 13 and 14 in the overview document for more.

Australian Homelessness Monitor 2018 Overview

This is a Launch Housing overview of the Australian Homelessness Monitor 2018. This overview summarises and responds to the Monitor, which was authored by independent researchers at the University of NSW and the University of Queensland.

Australian Homelessness Monitor 2018 Full Report

The Australian Homelessness Monitor 2018 (the Monitor) is an in-depth, independent longitudinal analysis examining the changes in the scale and nature of homelessness in Australia, as well as how social, economic and policy drivers influence these changes.

University of New South Wales Maps

View a set of maps that show the regional differences in 2016 and how these have changed between 2011 and 2016 in terms of the overall levels of homelessness.