Homelessness

About homelessness

If you’re without a home, you’re not alone – 100,000 Australians are in the same boat, and one-third of them are age 12–25. Not having a home isn’t just about shelter; it can also mean you don’t have regular access to food, a place to clean yourself, a bathroom, friends, support and warmth.

Levels of homelessness

Homelessness doesn’t look the same for everyone. Here are a few of the different levels of homelessness that people might experience:

• Plugging the gap – staying with friends or relatives, in temporary housing, or between different places.
• Boarding – usually in group houses with little security.
• Sleeping rough –in cars, parks or bus shelters, or in empty houses (squatting).

Why does someone become homeless?

Many different factors can contribute to someone becoming homeless:

• violence or abuse in the home
• family breakdown
• money problems
• illness
• disability
• addiction.

Help with homelessness

National

• Centrelink appointments: 13 10 21
• Reconnect (for young people age 12–18)
• Homelessness Australia: (02) 6247 7744

New South Wales

• Link2home is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week: 1800 152 152
• A full list of NSW-based accommodation services can be found on the NSW Family & Community Services website

South Australia

• Trace-a-Place (HPYA – Helping Young People Achieve), Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm: 1300 306 046 or 1800 807 364 (free call)
• Crisis Care (24 hours): 13 16 11
• A full list of SA accommodation services can be found on the South Australian Government website

Queensland

• Department of Communities – Homelessness: 1800 47 47 53 or 1800 010 222 (TTY Service)
• Crisis Care, Monday to Friday, 5 pm to 9 am; weekends – all day: (07) 3225 1573 OR 1800 642 902 (free call)
• A full list of QLD accommodation services can be found on the Queensland Government website

Victoria

• St Kilda Crisis Contact Centre, seven days a week, 10 am to 12 midnight: (03) 9536 7777 OR 1800 627 727 (toll free or country Victoria)
• Safe Steps (24 hours): (03) 9373 0123 OR 1800 015 188 (toll free)
• A full list of VIC accommodation services can be found on the Department of Human Services website

Western Australia

• Crisis Care: (08) 9325 1111 OR 1800 199 008

Northern Territory

• Youth Accommodation Services – Alice Springs: (08) 8953 4200

Tasmania

• PASS – Placement and Support Service: 1800 24 32 32
• A full list of TAS accommodation services can be found on the Linkzone website