Over 100,000 Australians will be homeless tonight
- Half are under 24 years old and 10,000 are children
- 1 in 40 children under five use a homeless service each year.
- The largest single cause of homelessness in Australia is domestic and family violence, which overwhelmingly affects women and children.
- Most preventable homelessness is caused when people exit from institutions into unstable housing situations.
- The waiting list for public housing is 16 years
- For people at extreme risk, waiting time is 12 – 18 months .
Source: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 08.07.08 and www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au
Why should I care?
"I think homelessness is an absolute tragedy. To know that you don't belong anywhere, that you have no home to shelter in, and no one to support you. It is one of the most distressing experiences a person can have ..."
" The consequence is the quality of life for the whole community is diminished. People will do whatever it takes to survive, including turning to crime if they have to. "
" As a community, we need to be responsive to people who are homeless, not just for moral and social reasons, but also for the sake of the stability of the entire community."
Major David Eldridge
In the last census we found that:
- In the Australian Capital Territory with 1,364, New South Wales with 27,374 and Victoria with 20,511, there were 42 homeless people per 10,000 population.
- In South Australia with 7,962 and Tasmania with 2,507 the homelessness rate was 53 people per 10,000.
- In Queensland with 26,782 and Western Australia with 13,391 there were 68 to 69 homeless people per 10,000.
- In the Northern Territory with 4,785 the homeless rate was 248 people per 10,000.
Source: Counting the homeless 2006 State figures released on July 2009
The tragedy of our most vulnerable
Read some of the stories from people we have assisted:
Homelessness can affect anyone you know - your neighbour, your friends even your family. There is a wide diversity of people turning to us for help for many different reasons. Broken marriages, disabilities, domestic violence, mental illness or breakdown may all contribute.
People who are homeless also need a new start. The Salvation Army doesn't just offer people in need emergency accommodation or a roof over their heads. Through our network of services such as counselling, legal aid, domestic violence support and lifestyle programs, it is our aim to bring people back into society, strong and equipped to fulfil a valued role in the community.
We look at each individual's or family's situation and tailor a special program to suit their needs. This way, homelessness may only be a temporary setback.
There are over 100,000 homeless people in Australia. Homelessness is one of the most distressing things for a person to experience. Please help us give the homeless a new start. The Salvation Army relies on the compassion and generosity of people like you to help the homeless and desperate in our community.
With your support we are able to help give the homeless a new start. Please support our work with the homeless by donating to the Red Shield Appeal.