It is estimated that about 187,900 people who are homeless, or
at risk of becoming homeless, received some form of assistance from
the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) during
2006-07, according to a report released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
'This was a substantial increase in the reported number of
people receiving help from SAAP,' said Felicity Murdoch of the
Institute's Supported Accommodation and Crisis Services Unit.
The increase reflects the inclusion of new agencies, resulting
from growth in the scope of the program. There is also an impact
from better reporting practices.
It does not necessarily reflect an increase in the number of
homeless people,' she said.
The national report, Homeless people in SAAP: SAAP National
Data Collection annual report 2006-07 Australia, shows that
the majority of clients supported by SAAP were female (61%).
'Young females, in particular, were likely to become a SAAP
client (1 in 51 of 15-19 year olds). However, accompanying children
4 years and under also had a very high rate of use (1 in 42). There
were more than 69,000 children using SAAP services in 2006-07 (up
from 54,700 in 2005-06). ' Ms Murdoch said.
Most SAAP clients were born in Australia and did not identify as
being Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, but Indigenous clients
were significantly overrepresented in SAAP.
'Indigenous Australians make up 2% of the general population,
but 18% of SAAP clients,' said Ms Murdoch.
The rate of use was particularly high for accompanying
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (1 in 13) compared
with all children (1 in 71).
In the vast majority of cases, agencies were able to directly meet
the expressed needs of clients and their accompanying
children.
The services that were provided most often were basic support such
as meals and shower facilities.
Services that were required but least likely to be provided were
specialist services, such as specialist counselling services and
health or medical services.
The majority of support periods did not include
accommodation.
Most clients had a case management plan in place before the end
of their support, and, in 93% of these, all or most of the client's
goals were achieved by the end of their support.
Generally, the circumstances of clients improved, particularly
for those supported for longer periods and those requesting
specific support, such as assistance with housing, employment and
income.
The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program is the
Government's major response to homelessness and is funded jointly
by the Australian and State and Territory Governments.
The national SAAP annual report is accompanied by individual
state and territory reports, which cover client outcomes for
income, employment, education, and other measures.
Wednesday 31 August 2008
Further information: Ms Felicity Murdoch, AIHW
02 6244 1018, mob. 0418 271 395
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. 61 2 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for the availability of Homeless people in SAAP:
SAAP National Data Collection annual report 2006-07
Australia.