‘Getting worse’: The hidden reality of Australia’s homelessness problem

While tents in city parks or people sleeping in doorways remain the most visible signs of homelessness, the overwhelming majority are unseen – living without the safety and stability of a place to call home. 

Just 6% of the more than 122,000 Australians experiencing homelessness were sleeping rough, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with the majority relying on homelessness services, boarding houses, couch surfing or living in extremely overcrowded accommodation.  

What’s more, a recent report by Homelessness Australia found families with children were increasingly seeking help from homelessness services.  

“We have a growing number of children and families moving from couch to couch, or sleeping in cars and tents, looking for the next safe place,” Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said.  

“This means parents miss work, and can slip into unemployment, children disengage from school, and the health costs associated with homelessness spiral.” 

The report found 92,476 people in families with children needed support in 2023-24 – an increase of 5% in two years. More than 40% of those had already lost their housing when they sought help. 

“How can you hold down a job, contribute to the economy and keep your family safe and healthy when you don’t have a safe and stable home? This is a massive threat to productivity in Australia, and this data shows it’s getting worse,” Ms Colvin said.  

Many Australians did not have a clear understanding of what homelessness looks like, the chief executive of Orange Sky – a charity providing free laundry, showers and support to those in need – Lucas Patchett said. 

“It’s not just someone sleeping in a park. We’re seeing young families, retirees, uni students, and working people forced into impossible situations by things like rent hikes, medical bills or car breakdowns,” Mr Patchett said.  

The alarming situation has prompted the launch the A Home for All foundation, which aims to bring the Australian property industry together to raise awareness and funds to help end homelessness.   

The foundation’s A Night Without a Home fundraiser encourages those in the property industry to spend a night in October sleeping on a couch, outside or without home comforts in a bid to raise much-needed funds.  

The foundation will donate funds raised to charities supporting those experiencing domestic and family violence. 

In Victoria, 54% of women and children seeking help from homelessness services also faced domestic violence, according to Launch Housing.  

The charity supports up to 50 Melbourne families each night to get into a hotel or motel – something intended as a “short-term stop gap measure for families in crisis”, however, average stays are now extending to 12 weeks, Launch Housing interim chief executive Laura Mahoney said.  

“There’s a dire lack of affordable rentals, limited safe and secure housing options for victim survivors of family and domestic violence and minimal supply of social housing which is leading to these long stays,” Ms Mahoney said.  

“The current homelessness support system was originally set up when single male clients were the main group of people who required support, and that’s no longer the case.” 

Homelessness Australia has called for a National Housing and Homelessness Plan, increased investment in homelessness services, and a goal of achieving a 10% share of all homes as social housing. 

“Being homeless costs a lot of money, and makes it harder for everyday Australians to contribute to their communities, but there are clear actions we can take to end homelessness, while also boosting the economy. It’s a no-brainer,” Ms Colvin said.  

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