The characteristics of and assistance given to homeless people
both with and without a disability via the government-funded
Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) is reported in
the latest release from the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (AIHW).
Homeless SAAP clients with a disability 2002-03, shows
that roughly one-quarter of the 97,600 SAAP clients in that year
had a disability. These clients were more likely to be male than
those not reporting a disability (58% compared with 38%).
'Disability' clients were also older, with an average age of 37
years compared with 30 years.
Clients in the 'disability' group were twice as likely to seek
SAAP assistance due to drug, alcohol or substance abuse issues than
those without a disability.
Anne Giovanetti from the AIHW said that in meeting the needs of
clients with a disability, 92% of 294,100 requests for various
service types were met.
'A total of 87% of service requests by disabled clients were
able to be provided directly by SAAP agencies, with a further 5% of
these clients referred to other organisations,' she said.
'The report also shows SAAP may not always be able to cater for
the specialised needs of homeless people with a disability, with
specialist services provided in only 69% of requests by the
"disability" client group compared with 81% of requests by
"non-disability" clients.
'All other services - including counselling and housing or
accommodation - were provided in similar proportions across both
client groups.'
Generally, housing outcomes for all SAAP clients improved after
receiving support. The longer they were supported the more both
'disability' and 'non-disability' client groups reported positive
or independent housing outcomes - such as renting independently in
the private market or renting public or community housing.
'However, the "disability" client group was consistently less
likely to exit to a private rental than the "non-disability" client
group regardless of the length of support,' Ms Giovanetti said.
'And they were more likely to be living in a car, tent, park,
street or squat both before and after receiving SAAP
assistance.'
11 February 2005
Further information: Ms Anne Giovanetti, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1122, or mobile 0407 915 851.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Homeless SAAP Clients with a
Disability 2002-03, February 2005.