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 to homelessness and may appear to be making a choice to remain homeless. This is very different to to be homeless. ‘choosing’ 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). 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. 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
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 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). 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. 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