At least 7,500 Australians a day are accommodated under the
Commonwealth-State governments' Supported Accommodation Assistance
Program (SAAP) according to a report released today by the
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The program aims to assist people who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness, including women and children escaping domestic
violence.
The report, Demand for SAAP Assistance 2001-02, shows
that the 1,286 SAAP agencies provided substantial help in the form
of accommodation or other assistance to over 95,000 clients a year
and 51,000 accompanying children.
But while 7,510 were accommodated each day, around 315 adults or
children under 18 presenting independently of a parent or guardian,
and 200 accompanying children requesting immediate accommodation,
were turned away.
Acting Head of the SAAP National Data Collection Agency at the
AIHW, Anne Giovanetti, said 'this is principally because by the end
of an average day no accommodation was available.'
'On any given day, around 570 adults or children on their own
request immediate SAAP accommodation. Of these, 315 were turned
away without being accommodated. The chances of getting immediate
accommodation are therefore less than 50%.'
'Meanwhile an average of 7,255 people continue their
accommodation from the previous day and into the next day. People
requesting immediate accommodation therefore made up only 7% of the
total daily demand for accommodation, with 3% of those obtaining
accommodation and 4% being turned away.'
Other findings from the report show that:
- Nearly 90% of accompanying children were accompanying their
mothers or a female guardian.
- Couples without children and people with children were more
likely to be turned away without being accommodated than people on
their own.
- SAAP agencies also provided over 2,500 people a day with
one-off short-term assistance such as information or meals.
30 October 2003
Further information: Anne Giovanetti, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1206 or mobile 0407 915 851; or
Justin Griffin, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1190.
Media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032
Availability: Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for details.