Author Description

The Australian Homelessness Monitor 2018 (AHM 2018) is the first independent analysis examining the changes in the scale and nature of homelessness in Australia, as well as its social, economic and policy drivers. It is inspired by the ground-breaking UK Homelessness Monitor commissioned since 2011 by Crisis UK and funded by Crisis and the Joseph Rowntree Foundation. Drawing on the work of prominent UK researchers such as Fitzpatrick and colleagues, who were involved with the original UK Homelessness Monitor, the report details the complexity of the causes of homelessness, but also demonstrates that sound policy and programs prevent people experiencing or continuing to experience homelessness. Drawing on statistical analysis, it considers the consequences of the global financial crisis, the growing shortfall of affordable housing, decreases in welfare payments and increases in breaching and sanctions, higher rates of domestic and family violence, increases in older Australians experiencing homelessness, and many of the other difficulties people may face in trying to access or maintain a home. Over the past five years, homelessness has increased nationally by 14%, and rough sleeping by 20%. The past decade also saw an 88% increase in those affected by overcrowding.This research demonstrates that many social, economic and housing market trajectories have been trendingin directions likely to increase - not ameliorate - the scale of the problem. This highlights the policy challengefacing all governments across Australia and the need for a concerted and aligned effort on housing policy,income support measures, and policies that support homelessness programs such as those directed towardsrough sleepers and domestic violence.