According to the Productivity Commission’s most recent report on government services, the number of Australians who are homeless for an extended period of time has increased by about 25% in the last five years. The number of individuals classed as persistently homeless increased from 30,306 in 2019–20 to 37,780 in 2023–24.
Being without a permanent place to live for more than seven months throughout a two-year period is known as persistent homelessness. According to advocacy groups, the statistics are extremely “grim,” indicating that more people than ever before are caught in cycles of homelessness and are finding it difficult to find and keep stable housing.
Prevention Programmes Show High Success Rates
The study emphasizes the value of early intervention techniques in spite of the rise in long-term homelessness. When people who were at risk of homelessness sought help, the crisis was successfully avoided in 81% of cases.
Kate Colvin, Chief Executive of Homelessness Australia, said the data demonstrated that targeted intervention can prevent homelessness before it becomes entrenched. “We know what works, we just have to resource it properly,” she stated, urging the government to increase investment in support services.
Programmes focusing on rental assistance, emergency accommodation, and wraparound support have shown the strongest impact. Advocates argue that sustaining funding for these initiatives could prevent people from repeatedly falling into homelessness, reducing the overall strain on crisis services.
Government Investment in Housing Projects
The Australian government has announced a $10bn Housing Future Fund, with at least $500m allocated annually to social and affordable housing projects. The first round of funding will support 12 developments delivering 800 dwellings, with an eventual goal of 55,000 homes.
Housing Minister Clare O’Neil has positioned the initiative as the largest social housing investment in over a decade. “Every single one of these dwellings represents more than just a roof over someone’s head – it’s the foundation for building a better and more prosperous life,” she said.
There are still questions, though, about whether the rate of housing delivery can keep up with the rising demand. Advocacy groups emphasize that the number of homeless Australians will keep increasing if there is no long-term budgetary stability for housing and other services.
The success of the federal government’s housing program will be evaluated not just by the quantity of new homes constructed but also by the degree to which vulnerable Australians are assisted in maintaining their housing.
