More than 31,000 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 used
the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) in 2000-01,
according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Head of the SAAP National Data Collection Agency at the AIHW,
Justin Griffin, said that overall this accounted for over 1 in
every 93 people in this age group. 'This compares with 1 in every
130 people aged 25 to 44, and fewer than 1 in every 385 aged 45
years or over.'
The Commonwealth-State/Territory governments' SAAP program
provides support and accommodation for people who are homeless or
at risk of homelessness.
The SAAP annual report, produced by the AIHW, shows that
combined government funding in 2000-01 for the program was $268.5
million, up 10% in real terms in the four years since 1996-97. The
1,238 SAAP agencies across Australia received a total of $251.4
million, up 13% since 1996-97.
The Program assisted 91,200 clients last financial year. The
average age of female clients was 30 years, while for men it was 32
years.
Indigenous Australians comprised 16% of SAAP clients compared
with their representation in the population of under 2%.
Approximately 12% of SAAP clients were born in countries where
English is not the main language spoken.
The main reasons overall for seeking assistance were domestic
violence (23% of all support periods), eviction or previous
accommodation ended (11%), relationship breakdown (10%) and
financial difficulties (10%).
The main reason reported by men over 25 for seeking assistance
was financial difficulty (around 20% of cases).
Domestic violence was by far the most common reason for seeking
assistance by women with children (54%), and for single women over
25 years of age (45%).
For younger men and women the main reason was breakdown of a
relationship or family (17% and 21% respectively).
In 2000-01, 87% of all services requested by clients were
provided to some extent, with an additional 6% of requests being
referred to other service providers. The remaining 7% of requests
were not met.
The types of support most often provided by SAAP agencies were
housing services/accommodation, general support or advocacy
(including living skills, assistance with legal issues,
advice/information, retrieval of belongings, liaison on behalf of
client), and basic support services such as meals, showers, laundry
facilities, recreation, and transport.
18 December 2001
Further information:
Mr Justin Griffin, AIHW, 02 6244 1206
Ms Rosemary Karmel, AIHW, 02 6244 1200
Mr Doug Limbrick, Dept of Family and Community Services, 02 6212
9021
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
AIHW, 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.