Use of homelessness services by contemporary ex-serving Australian Defence Force members 2011–17

Over the 6-year reporting period, 53% (or 145) of female ex-serving ADF SHS clients were assessed as needing domestic and family violence services. Women were also the primary users of these services among Australian SHS clients—42%, compared with 15% of men during 2017–18 (AIHW 2019). Further analysis compared female ex-serving ADF SHS clients needing these services with those assessed as not needing them (129 clients) (Table 11). Key findings include:

• Women in both groups were more likely to present as at risk of homelessness than homeless at the start of support. However, of the 145 women who needed domestic and family violence services, 81% were at risk of becoming homeless, compared with 62% of the 129 women who did not need these services.
• Women needing domestic and family violence services had a longer length of support—43% had a support length of 91 days or longer, compared with 25% of women not needing them.
• Both groups of women received similar amounts of financial assistance.
• Both groups of women were equally likely to present to a SHS agency alone (81% of those needing domestic and family violence services, 75% of those not needing them).
• A lower proportion of women assessed as needing domestic and family violence services were unemployed—15%, compared with 44% of those not needing them. 

Table 11: Demographic and service profile of female ex-serving ADF SHS clients, by assessed need for domestic and family violence services, 2011–12 to 2016–17

n.p. not published

Notes

1. Unless otherwise stated, the denominators used for calculating percentages in the table above are 145 for women assessed as needing domestic and family violence services and 129 for women not assessed as needing these services.
2. Women assessed as needing domestic and family violence services includes all female ex-serving ADF SHS clients who were assessed as these services at any point during the reporting period from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2017.
3. Housing situation at the start of support is the housing situation of a client during the financial year in which the client first received SHS support. The denominator used for calculating percentages of housing situation is the total number of clients excluding those whose status was not stated (denominator of 107 for women assessed as needing domestic and family violence services, 120 for women not assessed as needing these services).
4. If the support period start or end dates are outside of the reporting period for any financial year in the reporting period, total support days are calculated using a start date of 1 July and an end date of 30 June in the financial year. Days of support in the table above are calculated by summing all support days received by the client between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2017.
5. The amount of financial assistance for a client is calculated by adding the amount of financial assistance provided across all support periods from 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2017. This includes financial assistance, material aid, brokerage and vouchers provided to, or on behalf of the client during the reporting period.
6. Labour force status at the start of support is the status of a client during the financial year in which the client first received SHS support. The denominator used for calculating percentages is the total number of clients less not stated (denominator of 91 for women assessed as needing domestic and family violence services, 111 for women not assessed as needing these services).

Source: AIHW analysis of linked PMKeyS–SHSC data 2011–12 to 2016–17.

References

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2019. Specialist homelessness services annual report 2017–18. Cat. no. HOU 299. Canberra: AIHW.