The latest report on the government's Supported Accommodation
Assistance Program (SAAP), released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), shows that one in every 104
Australians, received substantial SAAP support in 2007-08.
'That equates to 202,500 people (125,600 clients and 76,900
accompanying children), the majority of whom were female', said
Felicity Murdoch, of the Institute's Housing and Homelessness
Reporting and Analysis Unit.
According to the report, Homeless people in SAAP
2007-08, the largest group of SAAP clients was 15- to
19-year-olds.
'In particular, young women aged 15-19 years were high users of
these services, with one in every 49 young women in this age group
accessing a SAAP service in 2007-08,' Ms Murdoch said.
Children also had a very high rate of use, with one in every 39
children aged 4 years or younger accompanying a parent or guardian
to a SAAP agency.
Domestic or family violence, and relationship or family
breakdown were the most common reason clients gave for seeking
assistance. Accommodation and financial issues were other common
reasons.
Two-thirds of support periods were for support services only and
about one-third included a period of accommodation.
Family groups with children generally required longer periods of
support and accommodation.
Generally, SAAP client circumstances improved following support,
particularly for those who required assistance with income,
employment and housing, and for those supported for longer
periods.
Over half (60%) of SAAP clients had a case management plan in
place before the end of their support. In most cases (93%), at
least some of the goals specified in the plan were achieved.
This report is accompanied by eight individual state and
territory reports, which cover client outcomes for income,
employment, education, and other measures.
The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program, which is now
incorporated into the National Affordable Housing Agreement, was
jointly funded by the Australian Government and the state and
territory governments.
Friday 3 April 2009
Further information: Felicity Murdoch, AIHW,
tel. 02 6244 1018, mob. 0418 271 395.
For media copies of the report: Publications
Officer, AIHW, tel. (02) 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications area
for the availability of Homeless people in SAAP
2007-08 and the eight individual state and territory
reports:
Australian
Capital Territory supplementary tables
New South
Wales supplementary tables
Northern
Territory supplementary tables
Queensland
supplementary tables
South
Australia supplementary tables
Tasmania
supplementary tables
Victoria
supplementary tables
Western
Australia supplementary tables