Stage 1 report: LGBTI homelessness: Preliminary findings on risks, service needs and use

The pervasiveness of homelessness, both in Australia and abroad, has led to concerted efforts to understand its causes and to develop effective policies and programs that provide short and long-term supportive housing solutions to rebuild lives. Existing research feeding into policy priorities has identified a number of sub-groups that need to be targeted, including Indigenous Australians, young and older homeless Australians, and persons exiting State care, juvenile justice, other correctional facilities or medical or psychiatric facilities. However, to date, sexual orientation, sex and gender identity minorities have not been identified as a key target group for direct policy and practice intervention.

Whilst there is mounting evidence that the risk of and potential consequences of homelessness among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people is heightened compared to the general population, there has been limited systematic research in Australia that can inform a more targeted response. Australia lags behind similarly advanced democracies in developing research, policy and best practice in the area of LGBTI homelessness.

This report documents the first stage of a mixed methods research study examining the experience of homelessness among LGBTI people.