Homelessness

‘Homelessness’ doesn’t just mean living on the streets. Being homeless is when you haven’t got a safe or stable place to live. Find out about homelessness and where to get help.

This can help if:

• you’re at risk of becoming homeless

• you are homeless

• you want to know what services are available to assist someone who is homeless.

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

• Homeless Connect SA is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week:1800 003 308

• 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

• Housing Vic Crisis and Emergency Accommodation 24 hour helpline: 1800 825 955

• 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

• Housing Connect - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 800 588.