By Mike CrooksMonday 5 Aug 2024Social JusticeReading Time: 4 minutes
While most Australians are doing it tough amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, many continue to suffer more than others.
Key Points:
- Today marks the beginning of National Homelessness Week, an initiative to rally communities and governments to end a plight that faces too many Australians.
- ABS data suggests there are over 122,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Australia
- Churches, community groups and NFP organisations are all working to raise awareness of homelessness, and to help those in need.
Today marks the beginning of National Homelessness Week, an initiative to rally communities and governments to end a plight that faces too many Australians.
Hosted by Homelessness Australia (HA), Homelessness Week involves charities and support groups raising awareness of the impact of being without a permanent home, and the solutions needed to bring homelessness to an end.
“It’s a national shame that in a wealthy, developed country like Australia, we have tens of thousands of families and young people without a safe place to call home,” HA CEO Kate Colvin said.
Action now
The theme for Homelessness Week 2024, which runs from August 5 to 11, is “Homelessness Action Now”.
Homelessness does not only refer to people “sleeping rough”, but to all those who do not have a permanent home, and must resort to living in their car, couch surfing, emergency shelters or other temporary accommodation.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics there are over 122,000 people experiencing homelessness on any given night in Australia.
Mission Australia reports that domestic and family violence remains a leading cause of homelessness in Australia.
“A blight on Australia”
To coincide with the launch of Homelessness Week, HA released a new report on Monday that reveals the harsh reality of the crisis.
The 2024 Child Homelessness Snapshot report, reveals that each year 76,000 children in Australia seek help from homelessness support services across the nation.
“Almost 16,000 of these children were alone—unaccompanied by a parent or caregiver—and many were fleeing domestic violence, abuse or neglect at home,” the report said.
And more than a third of the nearly 90,000 family members who recently sought support, remain homeless.
And more than a third of the nearly 90,000 family members who recently sought support, remain homeless.
Other findings include:
- NSW had the highest number of unaccompanied children seeking help.
- First Nations children make up 32 per cent of homeless children nationally.
“Family and child homelessness is a blight on Australia,” Ms Colvin said.
“How can a parent settle a child to sleep, keep them safe and have them ready for school if they are sleeping in their car or a tent in the middle of winter?”
Taking action
During this week, there are community events throughout the nation that are raising awareness of homelessness, and helping those in need.
Like the Community Day in the St Andrew’s Cathedral forecourt in Sydney’s CBD (August 6, from 9.30am).
There’ll be a free BBQ, plus health checks, clothes and blankets, a well as legal support, Centrelink services and debt support.
For other events visit here.
“More Aussies are struggling”
Homelessness in Australia has been exacerbated by both the cost-of-living crisis and the housing crisis.
According to research by charity Orange Sky, which provides free mobile laundry and shower services to the homeless, more than half of Australians are struggling with their finances.
“The research is confirming what we’ve seen on the ground,” Orange Sky chief operating office Shayne Herriott
In fact, one in three people have been forced to dig into their savings to keep financially afloat.
“The research is confirming what we’ve seen on the ground,” Orange Sky chief operating office Shayne Herriott said in a statement provided to Hope 103.2.
“Which is basically more Aussies than ever are really struggling right now.”
Daily battle
The Orange Sky research was conducted by global market research giant YouGov and involved a survey of 1,310 Australian adults taken between June 26 and July 3.
The results showed that 3 in 5 of those surveyed have had to change their lifestyle due to the cost-of-living crisis.
And 15 per cent have had to borrow money, sell something for cash, or taken out a loan to pay their rent or a bill.
The research also revealed that 12 per cent of people have skipped meals in the last 12 months.
And 15 per cent have had to borrow money, sell something for cash, or taken out a loan to pay their rent or a bill.
“Fifty per cent of Aussies have said they were struggling in the last twelve months,” Mr Herriott said. “And one in four say they are struggling to make ends meet monthly weekly, or even daily.”
“We need ambition”
Homelessness Australia has called for a range of measures to address the crisis.
These include setting targets and timelines for action on the major causes of homelessness (rental stress, domestic and family violence) and access to support services.
“We urgently need a comprehensive national strategy to ensure that no Australian child ever experiences the trauma of homelessness,” Ms Colvin said.
“Our nation has the resources to solve this crisis. What we need now is the ambition to make it happen.”
If you need support, call:
Lifeline 13 11 14 (lifeline.org.au)
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Link2Home 1800 152 152
NSW Domestic Violence Line 1800 656 463
To donate to Mission Australia’s winter drive, visit here.