EMBARGOED AND NOT FOR RELEASE UNTIL 7 AUGUST 2024
The Salvation Army reveals more than 25% of all Australians are concerned about becoming homeless
And asks for the public to give its views on the growing issue this Homelessness Week
The Salvation Army, the largest provider of homelessness services across the country, is asking everyday Australians to give their views on the issue of homelessness as new statistics show that one in four of us are worried, we could become homeless*.
Recent research from The Salvos also surveyed over 1500 people who had accessed financial relief support and found that 71% were living in housing stress, 33% were behind on paying their rent or mortgage repayments (with 74% of these people behind by up to four weeks), and 19% have couch surfed or lived in their car due to financial hardship.
During Homelessness Week, 5 – 11 August, the Salvos are urging everyday Aussies to complete a survey https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/get-involved/advocacy/what-you-can-do/ to further ascertain the levels of fear and stigma surrounding this alarming issue.
“This is an opportunity for everyday Australians to actively participate in giving their views about the issue of homelessness,” The Salvation Army’s Jennifer Kirkaldy says. “Our research already shows that it is an issue not just affecting those who are homeless but the public at large. The survey we are running will further investigate the issue and give an insight into just how profound and far reaching the issue is and what can actively be done to make a difference.”
The Salvation Army is the largest provider of homelessness services across the country, offering specialist services to adults, young people, and families with accompanying children. These services are distributed widely across metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote locations throughout every state and territory in Australia.
Services include accommodation, case management and support, assertive outreach, and financial assistance, together with connection and referral to other specialist services. Homelessness Stream programs and services partner with many other organisations to provide a better-targeted, coordinated, or more appropriate service to specific groups.
“The Salvation Army’s Homelessness Stream contains many services targeted to meet the needs of specific groups of people at higher risk of homelessness such as veterans, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recently arrived migrants and refugees, and people exiting custodial settings,” says Dr. Jed Donoghue, the Salvation Army’s General manager of Homelessness.
“We also cater to those for whom the impact of experiences of homelessness is amplified such as people over 55 years and accompanying children. For example, 48,850 children and young people are without a home on any night in this country. It is a statistic that should be in the front of mind for every Australian because it will take all of us to turn this around.”
The Salvation Army is also asking Australians to join the Everybody’s Home campaign, a national initiative to address the housing crisis which allows the public to get involved in by completing surveys and writing to your local member of parliament. Join the Everybody’s Home campaign here: https://everybodyshome.com.au/join-thecampaign/
“Every Australian can become involved in ending the issue of homelessness,” Dr Donoghue stresses. “Write to your local member of parliament, join a local community action group, visit National and State Homelessness and Housing peak body websites to learn more about the issue of homelessness. Because this isn’t an issue for one week of the year for those who are homeless, it’s every day.”
FACTS ON HOMELESSNESS:
A survey of 1500 people who have reached out the Salvos Doorways financial relief service over a 12-month period shows:
- 19% have couch surfed or lived in their car due to financial hardship
- 33% said they were worried about losing their home and becoming homeless
- 71% raised concerns about their current housing situation, such as high costs, despair, temporary living conditions, safety concerns, overcrowding, and isolation from family and friends
- 36% said that finding a safe, affordable, and secure place to live was one of their most significant challenges over the past 12 months
- 33% were behind on paying their rent or mortgage payments, significantly increasing their risk of eviction, repossession, and potential homelessness. Of these, nearly half (48%) of these in arrears up to two weeks and almost three-quarters (74%) behind by up to four weeks
- 71% found themselves in housing stress, spending more than 30% of their disposable income on housing
- Poor mental health and feelings of isolation were more common amongst respondents experiencing homelessness. For example:
- 70% of respondents experiencing homelessness reported poor mental health (compared to 52% of those with more stable housing)
- 72% of respondents experiencing homelessness reported often feeling lonely (compared to 61% of those with more stable housing).
In the past year the Salvos’ have:
- Provided more than 1.2 million nights of accommodation across all social programs (including homelessness, family violence, youth and alcohol and other drug treatment services)
- Provided more than 3000 people with housing
- Salvos homelessness services assisted more than 38,0000 people and provided more than 317,000 sessions of care to those at risk of experiencing homelessness.
ENDS
For more information, please contact The Salvation Army’s Media Relations Department on (02) 94663143
*Salvation Army Sentiment Tracker