SW News:

A shocking report from Australia has revealed that the number of people seeking emergency accommodation or living on the sidewalk or in cars has spiked across the country over the past three years. 

This shocking revelation was made by Catholic charity Mission Australia’s report which points to a 26 percent spurt in the demand for homelessness services from 2020 to 2022. The Safe Place to Call Home, Mission Australia’s Homelessness and Stable Housing Impact Report 2023 says that the paucity of affordable housing, spiraling house rents, and the glum in the construction sector are responsible for this grim scenario in the country. 

The report was prepared using information taken from 63 homelessness and housing support services operated by Mission Australia. It says that there has been a 102 percent rise in the number of people sleeping in tents or makeshift accommodations from 2020 to 2022. The Catholic charity is seeking state and federal government help to tackle this situation as the nation faces the worst housing crisis in recent history. 

According to Mission Australia Chief Executive Officer Sharon Callister,  there has been a 50 percent spurt in the number of people sleeping rough without proper accommodation. Callister said that on average, as many as 300 requests for help are turned away daily. She added that frontline staff are reporting a surge of requests for accommodation reiterating that quick-fix solutions are not the need of the hour as they will not solve the crisis. 

“They’re telling us the housing situation is the worst they’ve ever seen. Australia needs to be doing so much more to be on the front foot to prevent and end homelessness in our country.” 

In Australia, the housing crisis has affected women the most and the portion stands at 57 percent.  Twenty-seven percent of homeless people are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.