The State of Homelessness in Australia's Cities: A Health and Social Cost Too High

Since 2010, Australian homelessness services, largely operating in the inner city areas of Australian cities, have undertaken interviews with over 8,000 people sleeping rough or otherwise homeless in concentrated data collection efforts called Registry Weeks. First implemented by US homelessness services as part of campaigns to end homelessness, Registry Weeks aim to develop a register of those who are homeless in areas in which homelessness services operate using a common interview schedule. The purpose of the register is for those who are homeless to be known by name and for their housing, health and social needs to be recognised to facilitate the organisation of local services to assist people into permanent housing with necessary supports. Over the seven years that the VI-SPDAT has been administered (2010-2017) interviews have been conducted with 8,370 people experiencing homelessness across Australian capital cities and regional centres. The State of Homelessness in Australia’s Cities: A Health and Social Cost Too High report is the first analysis of the consolidated Registry Week data across Australia.