The 2026 Census is expected to lay bare just how bad Australia’s homeless crisis is as the cost of living continues to exacerbate the issue.
Charities and the homeless sector are working with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to ensure those without a fixed address are counted in the Census, with field officers heading out to places where people are experiencing homelessness such as makeshift campsites to help people complete the survey.
“It is a critically important thing to do and we have been working really hard with the ABS,” St Vincent’s first National Director of Homelessness, Erin Longbottom, told the ABC’s Weekend Breakfast on Sunday.
“The ABS are well aware that if we don’t count for people, we can’t plan for them…. the government needs to include all people in decision making.”
The 2021 Census saw a 5.2 per cent rise in people reporting they were homeless, and with increased financial pressures impacting more and more Australians, Longbottom said they were bracing for another significant increase.
“More people are accessing homeless services than ever before at a really alarming rate. A lot of Australians are doing it tough,” she said.
One key service that has seen a surge in people using it is the handing out of food and hot meals and is a strong indicator the Census’ number of homeless people will again jump.
Charity Cos We Care recently told Yahoo News Australia queues for their food service were starting as early as 1am in the morning.
Founder Ann Cooper said it was “ridiculous” people lacked the right support that they would come out hours before the food was ready just to secure a meal.
Scenes of people seeking help are becoming more common.
Homelessness a lot more than just rough sleeping
And while rough sleeping can be the type of homelessness that’s most visible to Australians, Longbottom said it was important all types are captured in the Census, including those who may be employed but doesn’t have an address.
Current data shows sleeping rough makes up less than 10 cent of the nation’s homeless population.
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The Salvation Army reported this week nearly 289,000 people had sought their help in the past year, with homelessness now reaching “record levels”.
According to the Salvation Army, nearly 169,000 households remain on public housing waitlists nationwide, highlighting a housing system under immense strain.
Longbottom said housing availability was the standout reason the crisis has now reached breaking point, and said action to provide more homes, as well as the support to keep vulnerable people in housing, was desperately needed.
In one effort to alleviate housing demand, the National Alliance for Meanwhile Use is working to connect owners of vacant properties to community housing providers in a bid to rapidly scale up ”meanwhile use” housing – vacant or under-utilised property made temporarily available for short-term accommodation.
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