[Greens-Media] Number of homeless Australians leaps 17% in five years – action needed now

[Torre, Giovanni (Sen S. Ludlam)]

Number of homeless Australians leaps 17% in five years – action needed now
Australian Greens housing spokesperson - Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam. 12 November 2012.

The Greens renewed their call for urgent action on homelessness in Australia today after new figures showed a 17 per cent increase in the number of homeless people in Australia in five years.

Australian Greens housing spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam said this morning’s ABS Census figures reinforced the fact Australia has been in the grip of a housing crisis for years.



"We need to see a commitment to at least doubling funding for homelessness services and accommodation in the new National Affordable Housing Agreement which is being negotiated this year.  The Federal Government should negotiate with the

homelessness sector directly.

“The rate of homelessness increased by eight per cent, and the total number by an appalling 17 per cent between 2006 and 2011.  There are now well over 100,000 people homeless in this country.  The number of people living in supported accommodation for the homeless went up 23 per cent in five years.



“The 2008 White paper on homelessness aimed to halve homelessness by 2020, but four years on there are 250,000 people on the waiting list for social housing.”



Senator Ludlam said young people were disproportionately represented in the homeless population; “a grim sign of a growing national tragedy”.


“At the time of the 2011 Census 60 per cent of homeless people were aged under 35 years, compared to 46 per cent for the general population.  Many of the thousands of Australians sleeping rough are younger than 18.  They need a roof over their heads and they need hope for the future.”


Media contact:  Giovanni Torre – 0417 174 302