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AUSTRALIAN HOMELESS FACTS & STATISTICS

Dignity is a human right

122,494 Australians are homeless today.

In 2021-22 over 108,000 requests for accommodation from homeless people across Australia could not be met (AIHW 2023).

45,800 people will sleep rough on the street across Australia this year (ABS 2021).

Fact. There are not enough shelter and governments ignore the basic human right dignity.

20.4% increase in the number of people sleeping on the street across Australia (ABS 2011 vs ABS 2016).

Women aged over 55 are the fastest-growing group of homeless Australians (ABS 2021).

23% of homeless people are aged 12 - 24 years (ABS 2021).

In 2018 two homeless men were tragically run over and killed by garbage trucks - one while sleeping in a Brisbane City laneway and another while sleeping in Sydney. 

Australian Homeless figures increased 5.2% in 5 years
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Australian Homeless - Interactive Map

Facts About Homelessness In Australia

Every night thousands of Australians are putting their life at risk by sleeping on the street. No one thinks they will end up homeless and can be traumatic when it does happen.

Western Australia (WA) has the highest number of people in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out (23.8%) (ABS 2021).

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) had the highest proportion of people in homeless accommodations (48.5%) (ABS 2021).

Tasmania had the highest proportion of people staying temporarily with other households (25.0%) (ABS 2021).

Victoria had the highest proportion of people living in boarding houses (28.0%) (ABS 2021).

Northern Territory (NT) had the highest proportion of people living in 'severely' crowded dwellings (75.6%) (ABS 2011 vs ABS 2016).

Australian Homeless Statistics

State Number of Homeless People (ABS 2021)
NSW - New South Wales 35,011
VIC - Victoria 30,660
QLD - Queensland 22,428
NT - Northern Territory 13,104
WA - Western Australia 9,729
SA - South Australia 7,428
TAS - Tasmania 2,350
ACT - Australian Capital Territory 1,777

What Homeless Australians do to Survive on the Street

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