Homelessness services

Australia’s welfare 2019: in brief tells the story of welfare in Australia with key findings on housing, education and skills, employment and work, income and finance: government payments, social support, justice and safety, and Indigenous Australians.

Australia’s welfare 2019 is the 14th biennial welfare report of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. This edition introduces a new format and expanded product suite:

• Australia’s welfare 2019: data insights
• Australia’s welfare snapshots
• Australia’s welfare 2019: in brief
• Australia’s welfare indicators

In 2018 most tenants in social housing were satisfied with services from their housing provider. Nearly all tenants cited feeling more settled and being able to manage their rent better as benefits of living in social housing. Australia-wide, satisfaction is high (3 in 4 tenants are satisfied), but there are differences between housing programs and states and territories. The most important explanation for these differences is variation in the structural condition of dwellings between populations.

At a glance summary with data visualisations was added in July 2019.

Two short supplementary reports were added in July 2019.

This report examines the profiles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in both the housing and homelessness sectors over time, using multiple data sources and visualisation tools.

Historically, Indigenous Australians have been over-represented among clients seeking homelessness and social housing services. This report shows that the housing situation of Indigenous Australians has improved—with rises in home ownership and housing provided through the private rental market, and falling levels of homelessness.

Short-term or emergency accommodation is a service provided for the homeless, and those at risk of homelessness. This report explores the circumstances, experiences and housing outcomes of clients in short-term or emergency accommodation who sought assistance from specialist homelessness services between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015.

Based on service use patterns across a 4-year period, this comprehensive analysis highlights the diversity and the complexities of the short-term or emergency accommodation population.

The SHSC data cubes are a subset of the SHSC dataset and contain data for 2011–12 to 2017–18, where available.

New for 2017–18 are data on the geographical location of clients.

Couch surfers are among the most hidden groups of people experiencing homelessness. This report explores the circumstances, experiences and housing outcomes of couch surfers who sought assistance from specialist homelessness services between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015. Based on service use patterns across a 4–year period, this comprehensive analysis highlights the diversity and the complexities of the couch surfer population. 

The Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC) describes all clients who receive services from specialist homelessness agencies and the assistance they receive, including clients with an alcohol and other drug issue.

In 2016–17, there were almost 241,000 SHS clients aged 10 years or over, and of these 11% (27,295) were clients with a current alcohol and other drug issue.

This proportion has remained relatively stable since the SHSC commenced in 2011–12.

Rough sleepers are the most visible population experiencing homelessness. This report explores the circumstances, experiences and housing outcomes of rough sleepers who sought assistance from specialist homelessness services between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015.

Based on service use patterns across a 4-year period, this comprehensive analysis highlights the diversity and the complexities of the rough sleeper population.

Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major health and welfare issue. It occurs across all ages, socioeconomic and demographic groups but mainly affects women and children. Indigenous women, young women and pregnant women are particularly at risk. This report explores the extent, impact and cost of family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia, and looks at what could be done to fill important data gaps.  

The specialist homelessness services 2016–17 web report is the sixth annual report from the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC). It describes the characteristics of clients of specialist homelessness services, the services requested, outcomes achieved, and unmet requests for services during 2016–17.

This report was first published on 14 December 2017. Additional material was added on 12 February 2018:

• fact sheets,
• historical data and
• an interactive data visualization.

This report provides an overview of national-level, state and territory findings, as well as comparisons across public housing, state owned and managed Indigenous housing and community housing tenants. The report shows that the majority of tenants are satisfied with the services provided by their housing organisation, with community housing tenants the most satisfied. Tenants report a range of benefits from living in social housing and the majority live in dwellings of an acceptable standard.

Three short supplementary reports were added in November 2017.

Two further short supplementary reports were added in May 2018.

Housing assistance in Australia 2017 provides up-to-date information relating to government funded provision of social housing, rent assistance, purchase assistance and support services to help households maintain their tenancies.

This report presents a national summary of the results of the 2016 National Social Housing Survey (NSHS), and reports findings from public housing, community housing and state owned and managed Indigenous housing tenants. The report shows that the majority of tenants are satisfied with the services provided by their housing organisation, with community housing tenants the most satisfied. Tenants report a range of benefits from living in social housing and the majority live in dwellings of an acceptable standard.

The specialist homelessness services 2015–16 web report is the fifth annual report from the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC). It describes the characteristics of clients of specialist homelessness services, the services requested, outcomes achieved, and unmet requests for services during 2015–16.