What is Homelessness?
The Facts
- Over 23,000 people are homeless on any night in Victoria.
- Almost half of Victoria's homeless are less than 24 years of age.
- Families make up a third of Australia's homeless population.
- There is no stereotypical homeless person; it can happen to anyone at any time.
Homeless is more than just ‘rooflessness'
When someone becomes homeless there are usually other significant problems going on their lives that have led them to this situation.
These problems can include:
- Family violence
- Family breakdown
- Early school leaving
- Unemployment
- Social exclusion
- Mental illness
- Lack of affordable housing
- Deficient income support
- Drug and alcohol abuse.
The different faces of homelessness
The young person:
- Can be aged anywhere from 11 to 25.
- Young people usually become homeless due to family breakdown.
- There are twice as many young homeless people today than there were 20 years ago.
The family:
- More and more families with young children are becoming homeless.
- Families are becoming homeless due to the 'housing crisis', increasing interest rates, rising petrol prices and food costs.
- Homeless has been linked to behavioural problems and poor educational outcomes.
- For families, homelessness affects their connection to family, community and school, as well as fear, instability and insecurity.
- Read about one family's story.
The adult:
- Can become homeless when major life changes occur, such as mental illness, unemployment or loss of income, lack of affordable housing, social exclusion, relationship breakdown, or an accident.
What does being homeless actually mean?
- Primary homelessness: People without conventional accommodation. This may mean living on the streets, in deserted buildings, in cars, under bridges, or in improvised dwellings.
- Secondary homelessness: Is where people move between various forms of temporary shelter including friends, relatives, emergency accommodation and boarding houses.
- Tertiary homelessness: Describes those living in single rooms in private boarding houses on a long-term basis - without their own bathroom, kitchen or security of tenure.
