Stark rise in homelessness reflected in regional Victoria statistics
1 year, 8 months ago

Stark rise in homelessness reflected in regional Victoria statistics

ABC  

In short: Demand for homelessness support in regional Victoria is beginning to exceed resources Demand for homelessness support in regional Victoria is beginning to exceed resources What's next? The total number of homeless people in regional local government areas jumped by 52 per cent between the 2016 and 2021 census, while metropolitan homelessness rose by 17 per cent. LGAs with biggest percentage increases in homeless persons LGA 2016 2021 Change Yarriambiack 3 18 500.0% Glenelg 39 99 153.8% Swan Hill 95 234 146.3% Horsham 43 95 120.9% Greater Geelong 750 1546 106.1% Monash 842 1696 101.4% Mildura 175 348 98.9% Greater Bendigo 295 571 93.6% Wellington 69 126 82.6% Latrobe 226 392 73.5% Wangaratta 75 125 66.7% Whitehorse 630 1225 65.1% Banyule 326 535 64.1% Ballarat 413 638 54.5% Cardinia 220 337 53.2% In Ballarat, where the number of homeless people jumped 55 per cent according to the census, community service provider Uniting Victoria reported 1,450 new people reporting to its entry point seeking housing support in the last financial year, on top of its existing client base. "Particularly in entry points, we just don't have enough staff to meet the demand," Adam Liversage, Uniting Ballarat's senior manager for homelessness said. LGAs with the highest overall homeless numbers LGA 2016 2021 Change Greater Dandenong 1942 2366 21.8% Casey 1280 1852 44.7% Monash 842 1696 101.4% Greater Geelong 750 1546 106.1% Brimbank 1477 1528 3.5% Whitehorse 630 1225 94.4% Melbourne 1725 1166 -32.4% Hume 916 1147 25.2% Port Phillip 1127 1067 -5.3% Darebin 972 1029 5.9% Wyndham 730 1016 39.2% Whittlesea 630 854 35.6% Maribyrnong 713 821 15.1% Frankston 546 785 43.8% Merri-Bek 771 712 -7.7% Regional Victorian rental market in crisis Photo shows Young woman standing outside a house Low housing supply and high rental costs creating regional Victorian rental crisis Regional residents 'squeezed out' of rentals The government's March quarter report into the state's private rental market found just 24.1 per cent of regional Victorian properties were considered affordable.

Homeless Homelessness Victoria Les Regional Homeless People Rental Victorian Harrison Tippet Regional Victoria Ballarat Geelong Lga  support  rise  victoria  reflected  homelessness  stark  homeless  housing  regional  statistics  les  geelong  harrison  rental

History of this topic

Polling shows support for homelessness action
1 month ago

Polling shows support for homelessness action

ABC  

Rachel Mealey: New polling shows Australians have noticed an increase in homelessness in their communities over the past year and that heightened awareness appears to be driving support for government action on the issue, as Rachel Hayter reports. There's a real sort of mindset of there but for the grace of God go I. Rachel Hayter: Simon Welsh is Director …

Persistent homelessness is on the rise
1 month, 3 weeks ago

Persistent homelessness is on the rise

ABC  

Samantha Donovan: A new report from the Productivity Commission shows there's been a dramatic increase in the number of people who are homeless for long periods. The Australian Government Research Body found the number of people experiencing what it calls persistent homelessness has gone up 25 per cent in the last five years. Elizabeth Cramsie: A new report from the …

'Grim' numbers as Australians experiencing long-term homelessness rises by 25 per cent
1 month, 3 weeks ago

'Grim' numbers as Australians experiencing long-term homelessness rises by 25 per cent

ABC  

The number of people experiencing long-term homelessness has surged by over 25 per cent, new data from the Productivity Commission shows. Amid a housing shortage and cost-of-living crisis, the commission's report on government services showed 37,779 people experienced persistent homelessness in 2023-24. Advocacy group Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said the monitor's report showed the housing crisis was directly fuelling …

Homelessness rises to a record level in America
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Homelessness rises to a record level in America

Live Mint  

Each year for a few frigid days in January volunteers fan out across cities, towns and rural areas to try to count every homeless person in America. The method is admittedly flawed: cities do their counting in different ways, and many homeless people are transient or hide away in subterranean tunnels and under highway overpasses. The results for January 2024, …

US homelessness surges 18% in 2024 as affordable housing crisis deepens
Top News
2 months, 3 weeks ago

US homelessness surges 18% in 2024 as affordable housing crisis deepens

India Today  

The United States saw an 18.1% increase in homelessness this year, a dramatic rise driven mostly by a lack of affordable housing as well as devastating natural disasters and a surge of migrants in several parts of the country, federal officials said Friday. “No American should face homelessness, and the Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every family has access …

New figures show more than 15 per cent of homeless people have a job
3 months, 2 weeks ago

New figures show more than 15 per cent of homeless people have a job

ABC  

Sabra Lane: The latest report card on homelessness has found numbers continue to grow. Stephanie Smail : That daily struggle is mirrored in the latest findings of the Australian Homelessness Monitor, which shows there's been a more than 30 per cent spike in the number of Australians aged over 65 who are homeless in the past six years. Stephanie Smail …

Regional homeless out of sight, out of mind for WA government, say locals
4 months ago

Regional homeless out of sight, out of mind for WA government, say locals

ABC  

Six months ago, Robert Denison finally got some rest. WA's Department of Communities, which owns the lot, said the building had been "unable to be refurbished to be brought up to modern standard". Housing support worker Deirdre Lechleitner said people often came to Broome from remote Indigenous communities to access medical services at the hospital and found themselves with nowhere …

Services overwhelmed as 3 million at risk of becoming unhoused, says Homelessness Australia report
4 months, 1 week ago

Services overwhelmed as 3 million at risk of becoming unhoused, says Homelessness Australia report

ABC  

The rising cost of living and rates of rental stress have left about three million Australians at risk of homelessness, a more than 60 per cent increase since 2016, a new report by Homelessness Australia has found. Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said people who had been able to afford private rentals a few years ago were now resorting …

Homelessness in England hits record high: watchdog
8 months ago

Homelessness in England hits record high: watchdog

China Daily  

People walk past a man who is homeless on a high street in Croydon, south London, Britain on June 13. LONDON -- Homelessness in England has increased in recent years and is now at "the highest level since comparable data collection began in the early 2000s," said a report released recently by an independent public spending watchdog. "Funding remains fragmented …

NSW: Huge spike in number of people sleeping rough as Australia's housing crisis bites hard
10 months, 2 weeks ago

NSW: Huge spike in number of people sleeping rough as Australia's housing crisis bites hard

Daily Mail  

Homeless numbers going up in NSW Homelessness has surged across NSW as the state's housing crisis pushes an increasing number of people onto the streets. The annual street count, released on Friday, revealed a 25 per cent spike in the tally of people sleeping rough statewide. Some of the largest increases were in coastal areas, including a near-80 per cent …

Opinion: Why is California behind Texas and other states in curbing homelessness?
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Opinion: Why is California behind Texas and other states in curbing homelessness?

LA Times  

Rent is surging nationwide. Texas cities also stand out: Last year, the Houston metropolitan area achieved the lowest rate of homelessness of any major U.S. city, with just 52 people per 100,000 residents experiencing homelessness. Meanwhile, five of the top 10 major cities with the highest rates of homelessness nationally are in California: San Francisco, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Oakland …

Homeless total tops 30,000, increase is worrying says minister
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Homeless total tops 30,000, increase is worrying says minister

Dutch News  

Some 30,600 adults of working age in the Netherlands are currently homeless, a rise of some 4,000 on a year ago, national statistics agency CBS said on Tuesday. Eight in 10 people classified as homeless are male and 36% of them are registered in the four big cities of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. “I would expect the war …

Homeless total tops 30,000, increase is worrying says minister
11 months, 3 weeks ago

Homeless total tops 30,000, increase is worrying says minister

Dutch News  

Some 30,600 adults of working age in the Netherlands are currently homeless, a rise of some 4,000 on a year ago, national statistics agency CBS said on Tuesday. Eight in 10 people classified as homeless are male and 36% of them are registered in the four big cities of Rotterdam, Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht. “I would expect the war …

Advocacy group calls for 'urgent' action on homelessness rates across NSW, as study finds sharp rise
1 year, 1 month ago

Advocacy group calls for 'urgent' action on homelessness rates across NSW, as study finds sharp rise

ABC  

In short: A government report has found instances of people seeking help for homelessness are on the rise. Services struggle to cope with increase Last year, more people received specialist homelessness services in 58 of the state's 128 local government areas compared to the year before, according to a report by peak body Homelessness NSW. "NSW's housing crisis is putting …

Sad state of Australia's housing market seen in Brisbane's growing tent city with some people saying it's the worst they've ever seen: 'What have we become?'
1 year, 3 months ago

Sad state of Australia's housing market seen in Brisbane's growing tent city with some people saying it's the worst they've ever seen: 'What have we become?'

Daily Mail  

Shocking footage has revealed dozens of Aussies are now taking up residence in a growing tent city within a picturesque waterside park in one of Australia's capital cities. Footage from the Brisbane River's foreshore has revealed a growing tent city of homeless people amid housing and cost of living crises The tents can be seen grouped together under trees between …

Rental affordability decreases 44 per cent across Melbourne, Anglicare Victoria analysis reveals
1 year, 10 months ago

Rental affordability decreases 44 per cent across Melbourne, Anglicare Victoria analysis reveals

ABC  

Stacey Knowles felt like she had won the lottery when she secured a rental property for her rapidly growing family. Key points: Anglicare Victoria conducted its annual analysis of rental properties listed on one weekend in March Affordable rentals in Melbourne and regional Victoria decreased by 44 and 40 per cent respectively in one year Just 17 of 48 regional …

Homelessness Australia calls for increased support for young people in federal budget
1 year, 11 months ago

Homelessness Australia calls for increased support for young people in federal budget

ABC  

How far can anyone stretch $13 in a single day? Key points: A new study has found youth support incomes have increased by 10 per cent over the past two years, while rents have soared by 24 per cent on average The Australian Council of Social Services has called on the government to increase income support payments for young people …

Thousands of young people experiencing homelessness in Australia, as services call for national plan
1 year, 11 months ago

Thousands of young people experiencing homelessness in Australia, as services call for national plan

ABC  

Chelsea Mitchell has a roof over her head, but she is still considered homeless. Key points: More than 45,000 people under 25 in Australia are homeless, according to ABS data Organisations are calling for a national plan to address the issue They are also say more support services and accommodation options are needed Living in her mother's overcrowded home in …

Research suggests deaths among WA homeless people on rise, as rough sleeping rate surges
2 years ago

Research suggests deaths among WA homeless people on rise, as rough sleeping rate surges

ABC  

Noelene Garlett spent 15 years sleeping rough in Perth. "You're thinking that the homeless mob got houses and stuff, and they haven't got houses, they end up dying," Ms Garlett said, standing under one of the bridges where she used to sleep. "If we've seen an increase in people that are rough sleeping, we will see an increase in the …

Outback Queensland grapples with housing crisis amid rising rental prices and homelessness
2 years, 3 months ago

Outback Queensland grapples with housing crisis amid rising rental prices and homelessness

ABC  

When Ali Murray moved to the outback Queensland town of Longreach from New South Wales, finding a place to live was the least of her concerns. Key points: Regional Queensland has seen a 29 per cent spike in homelessness in the four years to 2021—2022 Longreach and Winton have seen the second-largest increase in rent in Queensland Councils are trying …

London ‘sees 24% increase in rough sleepers year-on-year’ as living costs surge
2 years, 4 months ago

London ‘sees 24% increase in rough sleepers year-on-year’ as living costs surge

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Crisis said the increase is being driven largely by first-time rough sleepers, who represent …

Rental increases of more than 11pc per year making south-west Victoria unaffordable, data finds
2 years, 7 months ago

Rental increases of more than 11pc per year making south-west Victoria unaffordable, data finds

ABC  

Tenants in Victoria's south-west, taking in greater Geelong, Ballarat, and Warrnambool, have been the hardest hit in the state by rental increases in recent years, new analysis has revealed. Key points: Surging weekly rental prices have been blamed on factors including the pandemic and cost of living pressures North-east Victoria, Gippsland, and Mornington Peninsula have The analysis comes as Australia …

Perth homeless centre denied planning permission after council bows to community opposition
2 years, 9 months ago

Perth homeless centre denied planning permission after council bows to community opposition

ABC  

John Carey, WA's minister for homelessness and housing, has slammed a decision by the City of Perth to refuse an application to relocate a 63-year-old homeless drop-in centre 200 metres around the corner, saying the council has a "moral responsibility" to support such services. Key points: Ruah has operated a community drop-in centre at its existing site since 1959, but …

Three-quarters of demand for homeless support unmet in WA, say services in new report
2 years, 10 months ago

Three-quarters of demand for homeless support unmet in WA, say services in new report

ABC  

Homelessness services in WA have described a system that is "failing" and unable to meet up to three-quarters of demand in a new report by researchers from the University of Western Australia. Key points: The Funding of Western Australian Homelessness Services study is part of a Shelter WA submission to a state inquiry into homelessness The report says a national …

Cost of living 'tougher in regional Victoria' as demand for services spikes
2 years, 11 months ago

Cost of living 'tougher in regional Victoria' as demand for services spikes

ABC  

Food and housing relief agencies say regional Victorians are worse-off than their metro counterparts as the cost of living rises. Key points: 45 per cent of Vote Compass respondents say they are more concerned about making ends meet compared to a year ago FoodShare says 17 per cent of central Victorians reached out for help at some point over the …

Rising rents across regional NSW fuels homelessness and worker shortages
3 years, 1 month ago

Rising rents across regional NSW fuels homelessness and worker shortages

ABC  

When Garry Wallis clocks off from work as a carer he doesn't drive home. "There are five or six people here of a morning all with their windows fogged up," Mr Wallis says. NSW Community Industry Housing Association chair Michele Adair says the investment is not enough to address the 50,000 households currently sitting on the social housing waitlist. "The …

Cancer patient faces homelessness in her country town amid national housing crisis
3 years, 5 months ago

Cancer patient faces homelessness in her country town amid national housing crisis

ABC  

This year Janice Williams and her husband were both diagnosed with terminal cancer and are facing their final days without a place to call home. Key points: Homelessness Australia says the pandemic has pushed more Australians onto the streets There are calls for more federal leadership and strategy to address national social housing shortages The percentage of social dwellings in …

How has COVID-19 affected Australia’s homeless?
3 years, 5 months ago

How has COVID-19 affected Australia’s homeless?

Al Jazeera  

During lockdown, hundreds of homeless people in Melbourne were moved into hotels. More than 12,000 homes will be built in what is being called the “Big Housing Build” with priority housing set aside for women and children experiencing domestic violence, Indigenous people and people suffering mental illness. Richard Wynne, Victoria’s minister for housing, told Al Jazeera in a statement that …

Innovative Housing First homelessness strategy faces regional WA housing shortage hurdle
3 years, 7 months ago

Innovative Housing First homelessness strategy faces regional WA housing shortage hurdle

ABC  

A long-awaited program that was intended to be a 'game-changer' in tackling homelessness in regional Western Australia is being hampered by an acute shortage of social housing. Key points: Housing First is a multi-million dollar strategy meant to find permanent homes for the people who are homeless A severe social housing shortage is hampering efforts to get the people off …

Homeless in Australia: ‘You have to be on your guard constantly’
3 years, 7 months ago

Homeless in Australia: ‘You have to be on your guard constantly’

Al Jazeera  

Soon after he left foster care, Phil found himself living on the streets of Melbourne, where he says he would sleep on traffic islands as they were brightly lit and felt safer. As well as the threat of being robbed or attacked, Phil says sleeping rough every night “gets really uncomfortable, because you’ve got no bedding no money”. While “rough …

Queensland's housing 'crisis' requires $4.1b, social services tell state government
3 years, 10 months ago

Queensland's housing 'crisis' requires $4.1b, social services tell state government

ABC  

Housing and support organisations have jointly launched a pre-budget campaign urging the Queensland government to commit $4.1 billion to urgently build more social housing. Key points: QCOSS estimates 14,700 Queensland families are in very high need for housing The St Vincent de Paul Society says there is an unprecedented housing crisis Anglicare says housing pressure is increasing across central Queensland …

Rental price spikes increasing homelessness in regional Victorian towns
3 years, 11 months ago

Rental price spikes increasing homelessness in regional Victorian towns

ABC  

Young people are being turned away daily from emergency accommodation services in south-eastern Victoria, as a lack of affordable housing increases the risk of a youth homelessness crisis, charities are warning. Key points: Regional areas in south-eastern Victoria are experiencing rental price hikes of up to 18 per cent Support services say youth are particularly vulnerable to homelessness due to …

Report shows US homelessness rising even before pandemic
4 years ago

Report shows US homelessness rising even before pandemic

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Homelessness in America was on the rise even before the coronavirus pandemic dramatically dragged down the economy, according to a government report. The Housing and Urban Development Department’s annual report on homelessness provides a snapshot of the number of homeless people, both sheltered and unsheltered, in America on a single night. The one-night counts are conducted during the …

Lack of affordable housing leaving more people homeless in regional South Australia
4 years, 1 month ago

Lack of affordable housing leaving more people homeless in regional South Australia

ABC  

Huge waiting lists for social and community housing are leading to more people sleeping rough in regional South Australia. Key points: Requests for emergency accommodation have increased by 30 per cent in recent months Mount Gambier City Council will advocate for more funding for social and community housing Homelessness is expected to increase by 4.6 per cent in South East …

Homelessness in regional, rural areas outpace cities as domestic violence, drought tightens grip
5 years, 8 months ago

Homelessness in regional, rural areas outpace cities as domestic violence, drought tightens grip

ABC  

Last week, the new Federal Assistant Community Housing Minister seemingly downplayed homelessness, calling for a so-called "positive spin" on an issue that affects less than one per cent of Australia's population. "Anywhere where there is a major transport hub or node — Nowra, Wagga, Dubbo — we see a pushing out of people to those transport junctions, and homelessness then …

More than 1,000 people become homeless every month, figures reveal
6 years, 4 months ago

More than 1,000 people become homeless every month, figures reveal

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Opposition politicians and campaigners said it was “unforgivable” that so many people had been …

One in 200 people now homeless in Britain
6 years, 4 months ago

One in 200 people now homeless in Britain

CNN  

CNN — The number of homeless people in Britain is soaring by more than 1,000 a month, and reached a total of 320,000 in the first quarter of this year, according to research released Thursday by homelessness charity Shelter. The surge in homelessness is is the result of a “perfect storm of spiralling rents, welfare cuts and a total lack …

Think homelessness is just a city issue? These hotspots show otherwise
6 years, 6 months ago

Think homelessness is just a city issue? These hotspots show otherwise

ABC  

For the first time, a new map has revealed the scale and type of the often hidden homeless population. The map breaks down the types of homelessness experienced in electorates across Victoria: Sleeping rough Crisis accommodation Couch surfing Boarding house, and "Severely" crowded dwellings It was developed by the Council to Homeless Persons off the latest Census figures, and shows …

Think there are no homeless people in your area? Think again
7 years ago

Think there are no homeless people in your area? Think again

ABC  

The Australian Bureau of Statistics has released 2016 Census data showing more than 100,000 Australians are homeless — and revealing they live in virtually every part of the country. The Council of Homeless People says the map shows homelessness is a "national epidemic". The homeless rate across the country is 50 people per 10,000, with high numbers of homeless both …

After an epic property boom, here's the youth homelessness figures
7 years ago

After an epic property boom, here's the youth homelessness figures

ABC  

States with booming capital city property markets have seen a massive increase in youth homelessness in the last decade, new ABS Census data shows. Homelessness among 19-24 year olds in New South Wales has more than doubled while in Victoria it's gone up 66 per cent and in Tasmania 71 per cent. Homelessness among 19-24 year olds, 2006 to 2016, …

Homelessness growing worse in Australia, census data shows
7 years ago

Homelessness growing worse in Australia, census data shows

ABC  

The number of homeless people in Australia jumped by more than 14,000 — or 14 per cent — in the five years to 2016, according to census data which also reveals a "significant" increase in older women on the streets and a growing group living in overcrowded accommodation. The facts on homelessness: Tonight 116,427 will be homeless 116,427 will be …

These five states have seen the most rapid increases in homelessness over the past decade
7 years ago

These five states have seen the most rapid increases in homelessness over the past decade

Salon  

Homelessness increased in the U.S. in 2017 for the first time since 2010, and advocates for homeless people are alarmed. “As cities bear the burden of increasing unsheltered counts, it is essential that they address the affordable housing crisis, increase investments in proven housing interventions, and ensure that they have appropriate emergency shelter capacity.” Beyond the division of sheltered versus …

Homeless support services push for more coordinated response in regional Victoria
7 years, 2 months ago

Homeless support services push for more coordinated response in regional Victoria

ABC  

While homelessness is often viewed as an inner-city problem, some support services say they are struggling to cope with the increasing number of people sleeping rough in regional Victoria. Lack of coordination between regional and metro services Grampians Region Network Coordinator for homeless support services, Jax Roan, said the response to rough sleeping in regional Victoria has been uncoordinated and …

Homeless services in regional Victoria get boost to help 'break the cycle', prevent Melbourne rough sleeping
7 years, 2 months ago

Homeless services in regional Victoria get boost to help 'break the cycle', prevent Melbourne rough sleeping

ABC  

Homeless services in outer-suburban and regional areas of Victoria will be boosted in an effort to provide people with better support within their communities and prevent them from becoming rough sleepers in Melbourne's CBD. The Victorian Government said an additional $45 million would be put toward new and improved housing and homeless services outside the city centre, as part of …

300,000 people in Britain are now homeless, study reveals
7 years, 3 months ago

300,000 people in Britain are now homeless, study reveals

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Although the figure has risen by 13,000 in the last year alone, Shelter said …

What it's like to be homeless in Melbourne
7 years, 10 months ago

What it's like to be homeless in Melbourne

ABC  

On a cold, wet evening in Melbourne, Ross Hall will often wander the city streets alone. Ross says he thanks the nurse "every day, every single day" for telling him about The Living Room. "I've noticed there's more young girls that seem to be homeless all the time and I can't understand why," he says. "I'm also having trouble sleeping …

Melbourne homelessness: Meet the city's rough sleepers
8 years ago

Melbourne homelessness: Meet the city's rough sleepers

ABC  

Conversations with those sleeping rough on Melbourne's streets quickly open up a chaotic web of mental illness, family conflict and inevitably drugs. "After court, with the crime compo, I should be a lot better off, be able to sort something out, get off the streets." Of the stereotype that all homeless people are drug addicts, Penny says: " Wouldn't you …

Melbourne homelessness: Meet the city's rough sleepers
8 years ago

Melbourne homelessness: Meet the city's rough sleepers

ABC  

Conversations with those sleeping rough on Melbourne's streets quickly open up a chaotic web of mental illness, family conflict and inevitably drugs. "The doctor says that it's self harm because the way I feel on the inside is the way I'm making myself look on the outside. Of the stereotype that all homeless people are drug addicts, Penny says: "Wouldn't …

Massive decline in affordable housing adding to number of homeless in Melbourne
8 years, 5 months ago

Massive decline in affordable housing adding to number of homeless in Melbourne

ABC  

An acute shortage of affordable housing is adding to the numbers of homeless people and forcing welfare recipients to seek accommodation on the suburban fringes of Melbourne, where there are fewer jobs and services. Key points: Average rent for one-bedroom flat exceeds Newstart payments with rental assistance Average weekly rent for all rentals in Melbourne up 46 per cent Working …

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