Homelessness in WA
Stats, facts, and what's being done?
Who? Why? Where?
- 9,595 of our Western Australian brothers and sisters are experiencing homelessness (56% male).
- Under 12 (15.6%) and 25-34 years (19%) age groups have the highest representation.
- Major cause (43.5%): Domestic violence and relationship issues, time out from family, family breakdown, violence and assault.
- Homeless people typically find temporary accommodation at overcrowded dwellings (43%), with 10% sleeping rough (above the national average of 6%).
http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/images/publications/Infographics/state_sheets_WA.pdf
Services:
- Specialist homelessness services (SHS) are organisations that provide a range of services to people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. These usually operate through government funding or money raised from donations/fundraising.
- SHS provide a range of services including: accommodation (from emergency accommodation to transitional and long term housing), family and relationship advice and counselling, material aid and brokerage, meals/laundry and shower facilities, transport, financial and legal advice and information, advocacy, health and medical services, drug and alcohol services, child protection services, parenting skills and education.
- Approximately 1 in 37 children aged 0-4 spend time in a homelessness service each year, most of whom are accompanying a mother escaping domestic and family violence.
http://www.homelessnessaustralia.org.au/images/publications/Fact_Sheets/Where_do_they_go.pdf
St Vincent dePaul Society
Passages Resource Centre - Helping the homeless aged between 12-25. More than just accommodation.
http://www.vinnies.org.au/passages-resource-centre-wa?link=2958
VincentCare - Accommodation and ‘support with dignity’ to people living with mental illness and/or homelessness while encouraging them to maintain their independence and life skills. New centre (Tom Fisher House) opening in 2014.
http://www.vinnies.org.au/vincentcare-wa
Become a member, become a volunteer, make a donation, make an enquiry...
http://www.vinnies.org.au/contact-us-in-wa-wa
Need Help?
If you require Emergency Relief Assistance in the Perth metro area, please call the Call Centre on 1300 794 054 between 9am - 1pm, Monday to Friday or email callcentre@svdpwa.org.au.
Other areas: http://www.vinnies.org.au/get-help-national?link=1560
(08/2013)