AHURI’s latest report investigated the homelessness services system and its response to families at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The report states that in the last few years there has been a disproportionate increase in the number of families who are homeless, as a result of domestic and family violence, poverty, and a lack of affordable and suitable housing.
Key points:
- Families experiencing homelessness due to poverty or other adverse events have different needs to families whose homelessness is due to domestic or family violence.
- Homelessness is driven by both structural and individual factors; effective responses to both are needed.
- Socio-economic disadvantage increases the risk of homelessness for families who experience other challenges such as mental illness.
- In Australia, a growing proportion of the population live in private rental accommodation, and most people below the poverty line are renting.
Access to long term, affordable and appropriate housing, prevention and early intervention, attention to both individual and structural drivers of homelessness are some of the necessary considerations in developing an effective response to family homelessness.
