Everyday hundreds of people are missing out on the support they need to avoid or escape from homelessness.
The Call Unanswered research revealed that homelessness services were unable to provide support or accommodation:
In a wealthy, advanced country like Australia we can provide the support that is proven to work to end homelessness.
Preventing someone becoming homeless is much better than waiting until they have no home. But as more and more people need help to escape homelessness, services have less time for prevention.
Specialist homelessness prevention workers can help solve a lot of problems that cause homelessness. Just some examples include:
Throughout our lives we all rely on the health system and other supports to stay well and live a great life. When those supports aren’t there or don’t work properly, more people become homeless.
Governments can help people avoid homelessness by helping to reduce racism, homophobia and transphobia and domestic and family violence. And by providing great family support, children’s services, education, and other supports, like mental health care and disability services.
Many people become homeless simply because they can’t find a home they can afford, or their income isn’t enough to afford rent.
Losing your home can be deeply traumatic. The quicker you get help to escape homelessness the less the harm that is caused. But with more people needing homelessness support, and the housing crisis making it harder to find a new home, more people who desperately need help are missing out or waiting a long time for support.
Specialist homelessness workers help people get a new home and provide the help people need while they are in crisis. Right now there are huge gaps across the homelessness supports needed to help people escape homelessness. Some examples include: