SHS client groups
Homelessness is a complex issue, involving more than just a lack of housing. Many structural and personal factors increase a person's risk of becoming or remaining homeless. The services needed and pathways to adequate housing are as diverse as the factors leading to homelessness.
The SHS client group evidence summaries present information on the following groups of people who received support from specialist homelessness services (SHS). Evidence is drawn from AIHW reporting on the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC).
Explore evidence summaries
The pages below are updated regularly as new evidence emerges.
- Older clients
- Children and young clients
- First Nations clients
- Clients exiting custodial arrangements
- Clients on care and protection orders
- Clients with a current mental health issue
- Clients experiencing family and domestic violence
- Clients rough sleeping
- Clients with disability
- Clients with problematic drug and/or alcohol use
- Clients experiencing persistent homelessness
Specialist homelessness agencies
Specialist homelessness agencies vary in size and in the types of assistance they provide. Across Australia, agencies provide services aimed at prevention and early intervention, crisis and post-crisis assistance to support people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Some agencies focus specifically on assisting people experiencing homelessness, while others deliver a broader range of services focusing on vulnerable groups including youth intervention services and family and domestic violence services. Assistance ranges from basic short-term interventions, such as advice and information, to financial advice and professional legal services.
Specialist Homelessness Services Collection
The Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC) commenced in July 2011 and is the main source of current data about these services. Every year the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) produces reports on the collection that describe:
- the people who received assistance from specialist homelessness agencies, the assistance they received, and their changes in housing and other circumstances
- trends in the characteristics of clients, the services they receive, and their outcomes
- the people who requested services but were not provided with support at that time