Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
The number of homeless people in Australia jumped by more than 14,000 — or 14 per cent — in the five years to 2016, according to census data which also reveals a “significant” increase in older women on the streets and a growing group living in overcrowded accommodation.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) said 116,000 people were homeless on census night in 2016, representing 50 homeless people per 10,000.
Homeless people include those sleeping on the streets, in cars, at crisis centres and in overcrowded accommodation.
Paul Jelfs from the ABS said the number of women over 65 who had become homeless in the five years to the 2016 census was significant.
“This is probably related to things like domestic violence, social relationship breakdowns and economic status, where they just don’t have enough money to support themselves, or sufficient superannuation,”.
The statistics also showed people aged between 20 to 30 made up a quarter of all homeless.
“There’s some really significant overcrowding in that space,” About 8,200 people across the country will be sleeping on the streets tonight, Dr Jelfs said, not including those in crisis accommodation or sleeping in cars or elsewhere.
The figures were no surprise to Jenny Smith, the chair of Homelessness Australia.
these figures tell us is what we know; homelessness is getting worse in Australia,”.
The ABS said the number of people staying in overcrowded places had seen one of the biggest increases.
