Home Truths: Homelessness in Australia

Homelessness emerged as a significant social problem in Australia almost 50 years ago, with a succession of policy initiatives and strategies, accompanied by significant public expenditure that has shown little success in bringing it to an end. This chapter examines Australian definitions of homelessness, the scale and nature of homelessness and how it has developed over time. An overview of policy interventions and their effectiveness is also provided. This chapter draws on one of the most detailed longitudinal analyses of the lived experience of people who become homeless that has ever been conducted, the Journeys Home (JH) survey to look at the different dimensions of Australian homelessness. This chapter concludes that structural issues around poverty and affordable housing supply must be addressed in order for an integrated, effective national response to homelessness to be developed.