And asks for the public to give its views on the growing issue this Homelessness Week
The Salvation Army, the largest provider of homelessness services across the country, is asking everyday Australians to give their views on the issue of homelessness as new statistics show that one in four of us are worried, we could become homeless*.
Recent research from The Salvos also surveyed over 1500 people who had accessed financial relief support and found that 71% were living in housing stress, 33% were behind on paying their rent or mortgage repayments (with 74% of these people behind by up to four weeks), and 19% have couch surfed or lived in their car due to financial hardship.
During Homelessness Week, 5 – 11 August, the Salvos are urging everyday Aussies to complete a survey https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/get-involved/advocacy/what-you-can-do/ to further ascertain the levels of fear and stigma surrounding this alarming issue.
"This is an opportunity for everyday Australians to actively participate in giving their views about the issue of homelessness," The Salvation Army's Jennifer Kirkaldy says. "Our research already shows that it is an issue not just affecting those who are homeless but the public at large. The survey we are running will further investigate the issue and give an insight into just how profound and far reaching the issue is and what can actively be done to make a difference."
The Salvation Army is the largest provider of homelessness services across the country, offering specialist services to adults, young people, and families with accompanying children. These services are distributed widely across metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote locations throughout every state and territory in Australia.
Services include accommodation, case management and support, assertive outreach, and financial assistance, together with connection and referral to other specialist services. Homelessness Stream programs and services partner with many other organisations to provide a better-targeted, coordinated, or more appropriate service to specific groups.
"The Salvation Army's Homelessness Stream contains many services targeted to meet the needs of specific groups of people at higher risk of homelessness such as veterans, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, recently arrived migrants and refugees, and people exiting custodial settings," says Dr. Jed Donoghue, the Salvation Army's General manager of Homelessness.
"We also cater to those for whom the impact of experiences of homelessness is amplified such as people over 55 years and accompanying children. For example, 48,850 children and young people are without a home on any night in this country. It is a statistic that should be in the front of mind for every Australian because it will take all of us to turn this around."
The Salvation Army is also asking Australians to join the Everybody's Home campaign, a national initiative to address the housing crisis which allows the public to get involved in by completing surveys and writing to your local member of parliament. Join the Everybody's Home campaign here: https://everybodyshome.com.au/join-thecampaign/
