MYTHS AND FACTS
HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA
myth 1: people choose to be homeless.
fact 1:

People do not choose to be homeless.

Homelessness is often the result of many inter-connected factors. Some of these are family
breakdown, abuse, trauma, disability, addictions, illness and poverty.

Around 15 – 20% of the homeless population experience chronic homelessness. A person
experiences chronic homelessness if they have been homeless for 6 months or more, or
experienced multiple episodes of homelessness over 12 months or more. People who are
chronically homeless often have complex needs, such as a developmental disability, traumatic
brain injury, serious physical health problems, history of abuse or trauma, mental illness or
disorder, psychiatric disability or addictions.

Some people who become chronically homeless may ‘adapt’ to homelessness and may appear to
be making a choice to remain homeless. This is very different to ‘choosing’ to be homeless.

Some people may remain homeless because they are waiting to access affordable housing.

Homelessness can be very unsafe and many people who experience chronic homelessness are
vulnerable. It is important to acknowledge the stress and difficulties inherent in becoming and
remaining homeless.
myth 2: homelessness cannot be solved
fact 2:

Homelessness can be solved. For most people, affordable, safe, appropriate and long term
housing solves homelessness

Some people may require ongoing support services to help them stay in housing, particularly
people who have experienced chronic homelessness. Support services may include the help of a
case manager or counsellor, help in building living skills, budgeting skills, assistance with
integrating into the local community, linking up with training or employment services and
making connections with health care providers.

In most cases, permanent, supportive housing solves chronic homelessness.
myth 3: all homeless people live on the streets or in parks.
fact 3:

105,237 people are homeless on any given night in Australia. Of that total, 6% are ‘rough
sleepers’ (ie sleeping in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out).i

The majority of people who become homeless remain so for short periods. In practice, most
long-term homeless people move frequently from one form of temporary accommodation to
another, often spending occasional nights in the rough sleeping population.ii

Most of the increase in homelessness between 2006 and 2011 was reflected in people living in
severely crowded dwellings, up from 31,531 in 2006 to 41,390 in 2011
myth 4: we have adequate income support in Australia, so no one should be homeless.
fact 4:

There is not enough affordable housing in Australia, especially in the major capital cities.

Private rental housing is often beyond the budget for people reliant on Government income
support such as Newstart or the Disability Support Pension.
myth 5: all homeless people have a mental illness.
fact 5:

Mental illness, such as schizophrenia, tends to first occur when people are young, at a stage
when people are completing education or starting a career. Mental illness can seriously disrupt
this process and lead to unstable job and housing careers. This can then lead to a lifetime of
living in poverty.

The majority of mentally ill people live in their own homes in the community and usually receive
support from families and community health services.

A recent study has shown that only 30% of homeless respondents had mental health problems
prior to becoming homeless.

There is evidence to suggest that being homeless impacts badly on people’s mental health, with
53% of homeless people in a recent study reporting that they developed mental health problems
after becoming homeless.iii
myth 6: the vast majority of homeless people are men.
fact 6:

Census night 2011: the counted homeless were 56% men and 44% women.iv

Women are less likely to sleep rough and their homelessness is less visible.
myth 7: homelessness only occurs in cities.
fact 7:

Homelessness is over represented in regional, rural and remote areas. Almost 70% of Australia’s
population lives in major cities, yet only 58% of the total homeless population was counted in
major cities. (Of the 105,234 people counted as homeless on Census night, 60,541 were counted
in cities and 44,693 were counted outside of cities)v.

Most rough sleeping occurs outside of major cities. Only 39% of people counted as rough
sleepers were counted in major cities and 61% were counted outside of cities. Given that 70% of
Australia’s population lives in major cities, rough sleepers are over-represented in regional, rural
and remote areas.
myth 8: there will always be homeless people and it is nonsense to make statements about ending
homelessness.
fact 8:

As a community, we can agree to put an end to chronic homelessness. It is unacceptable in a
developed and wealthy nation such as Australia.

Britain successfully reduced its rough sleeping population by two thirds within a few years –
once the Blair Government put in place initiatives to solve that type of homelessness.

Many cities in North America have made plans and commitment to end homelessness locally.
Already many of those cities have increased affordable housing and increased support services
and this has resulted in reductions in homelessness.vi
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myth 9: homeless people are just lazy and don’t want to get a job.
fact 9:

It is really difficult to apply for jobs and present well once you become homeless. Stable housing
is usually required before people can re-join the workforce.
myth 10: all homeless people are alcoholics.
fact 10:

Some homeless people have addictions to drugs and/or alcohol. They are not the majority. Some
people begin using or consuming drugs or alcohol after they have become homeless.vii
myth 11: why bother solving homelessness?
fact 11:

Chronic homelessness is a social injustice as well as being economically irresponsible.

It costs significant amounts to sustain someone in a state of chronic homelessness. Use of crisis
services, emergency departments, acute hospital admissions, mental health crisis care,
detoxification centres as well as police responses, ambulances, court and prison costs all add to
the total cost and tragedy of chronic homelessness.

Research has shown that it can cost the same amount or less to provide people with suitable
housing and good support to sustain that housing as it does to provide crisis services (such as
those noted above).viii
myth 12: if a young person gets kicked out of home it is always their fault and they deserve to be
homeless.
fact 12:

Many teenagers experiencing homelessness have left their homes for a range of reasons. These
sometimes include family breakdown or violence.
myth 13: people experiencing homelessness remain homeless for years.
fact 13:

The majority of people who become homeless experience it quite briefly. It is estimated that
only 15 – 25% of homeless people are long term (or chronically) homeless.
myth 14: homelessness can never happen to me.
fact 14:

No one is immune from potentially becoming homeless. Studies have shown that just a few
unfortunate events can turn someone’s life around completely. It may be the loss of a partner,
an unexpected expense or an eviction at short notice.
myth 15: families don’t become homeless.
fact 15:

Families do become homeless, as a result of loss of job, low income, eviction on short notice,
unaffordable living expenses and housing.
myth 16: No older people are homeless.
fact 16:

Recent reports show an increase in older people who are becoming homeless, specifically there
has been an increase of older women seeking accommodation.
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
It is difficult for older people to sustain payment in a private rental market, especially when the
pension amount they receive is not enough to cover this expenditure.ix
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HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA
FACT SHEET
Rough sleepers
In Australia people who are counted as homeless include those who have no accommodation or shelter at all
and may be sleeping in streets, parks, in squats (derelict properties) or in cars (often referred to as ‘rough
sleepers’). The people in this situation form a relatively small proportion of the total number of people who are
counted as homeless in Australia. In the most recent census by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) this group
of homeless people totalled 6,813 (or 6% of the total number of people counted as homeless).
People counted as homeless in Australia
The total number of people counted as homeless in the 2011 Australian Census was 105,237. This represents 49
people out of every 10,000 people in the population (or 0.5% of the Australian population).
People classified as homeless in the ABS census of 2011 were:
Rough sleepers (as described above)
6 813
Staying in supported accommodation services
21 258
Staying temporarily with other households
17 369
Living in boarding houses
17 721
Living in severely overcrowded dwellings
41 390
In other temporary lodgings
Total
686
105 237
Causes of homelessness
Poverty and unaffordable housing is the primary reason that people become homeless. Australia has a shortage
of affordable housing, especially in capital cities.
The availability of permanent affordable housing solves homelessness for the majority of individuals and families
who find themselves homeless. However, there is a smaller number of homeless people who have additional
support needs due to illness or disability. As well as needing affordable housing, they may also need ongoing
health and other community support to help end their homelessness.
Poverty
People who are unemployed and receive income support from the Commonwealth Government, through
Centrelink, have to live on $35 a day. There is a shortage of housing options for people on such limited incomes.
People with serious illness or disability are often unable to work and live for long periods on limited income
support such as the disability pension.
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Chronic homelessness
It is estimated that perhaps about 20% of people counted as homeless may be experiencing ‘chronic
homelessness’. Chronic homelessness means that people have been homeless for 6 months or longer or they
have had multiple episodes of homelessness over a 1 year period. People who experience chronic homelessness
often have disabilities, including mental illness and brain injury.
Women and homelessness
Many women who are counted as homeless have become homeless because of domestic violence. This means
that their home is an unsafe place for them to remain because a family member has abused or threatened to
abuse them. They need to seek assistance from either a women’s refuge or other safe place to live.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and homelessness
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are significantly over-represented in Australia’s homeless population.
This is a tragic situation which has been created through past public policy that separated families as well as
generational unemployment, poverty and inadequate and over-crowded housing.
Common myths about homelessness
No one ever chooses to be homeless, although this is a common misconception in the community. However,
some people who are homeless for long periods do adapt to being homeless. Being homeless is unsafe and over
50% of homeless rough sleepers have reported being the victim of violence and assault.
Another myth about homelessness is that most people who are homeless are drug addicts or alcoholics. The
majority of homeless people are not. However, they are over-represented in the population of people counted
as homeless. There is also some evidence that the experience of homelessness is so traumatising that some
people become addicted to substances after becoming homeless.
Ending homelessness in Australia
Although offering food and short term shelter to homeless people are well meant and often needed types of
assistance, on their own they won’t end homelessness in our nation. Ensuring an adequate supply of affordable
and public housing, appropriate community support services and job opportunities are the long term answer to
ending homelessness.
More information about homelessness in Australia:
www.mercyfoundation.com.au
www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au
https://homelessnessclearinghouse.govspace.gov.au
http://yfoundations.org.au
i
Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 Media Release 105,000 people homeless on Census night 2011. www.abs.gov.au
Chamberlain, C., Johnson, G. & Theobald, J. 2007, Homelessness in Melbourne: Confronting the challenge, Centre for Applied Social
Research, RMTT University, p.14
ii
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iii
Chamberlain, C., Johnson, G. & Theobald, J. 2007, Homelessness in Melbourne: Confronting the challenge, Centre for Applied Social
Research, RMTT University, p.6
iv
ABS Estimating Homelessness 2011 Summary of Findings
v
ABS Estimating Homelessness2011 Remoteness by State and Territory of usual residence 2011; Cloke P.J., Milbourne P. & Widdowfield,
R. 2010, Homelessness Australia, , Rural and Remote Homelessness, www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au
vi
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH) 2010, Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End
Homelessness :: 2010, http://www.ich.gov/PDF/FactSheetChronicHomelessness.pdf
vii
Chamberlain, C., Johnson, G. & Theobald, J. 2007, Homelessness in Melbourne: Confronting the challenge, Centre for Applied Social
Research, RMTT University
viii
Reynolds, F. 2008, Churchill Fellowship Report, The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia, p.8
ix
McFerran, L. 2010, It could be you: female, single, older and homeless , collaborative project: Homelessness NSW, Older Women’s
Network NSW, St Vincent de Paul Society, UNSW
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