OCDE - Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026 - Australia de 2026

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DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: AUSTRALIA © OECD 2026

Summary of key data and information Summary of key data and information Official statistical definition of homelessness (Table 1) In accordance with the Australian Bureau of Statistics statistical definition, when a person does not have suitable accommodation alternatives, they are considered homeless if their current living arrangement: is in a dwelling that is inadequate; or has no tenure; or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable; or does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations. Latest national estimates of homelessness (Table 2, Table 3) 122 494 individuals, representing 0.48% of the total population (2021) 44% are women, 56% are men Point-in-time count, based on the Australian Census of Population and Housing ETHOS Light groups included Included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Not included: • ETHOS Light 4: People in institutions Notes: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more sub-categories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness (Table 4) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Australia.

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • National Homelessness Strategy: Homes for Australia: A National Plan • Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist Approaches to collect data on homelessness

data on homelessness (Table 4) There is no legal obligation to collect data on homelessness in Australia.

Homelessness Strategy (Table 5) • National Homelessness Strategy: Homes for Australia: A National Plan • Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist Approaches to collect data on homelessness (Table 6) • Census of Population and Housing: Census with a specific homelessness enumeration strategy (Table 6.1) • Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC): Information management system on people experiencing homelessness (Table 6.2)

Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Australia2  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: AUSTRALIA © OECD 2026

Table 1. Official statistical definition of homelessness Statistical definition Homelessness When a person does not have suitable accommodation alternatives, they are considered homeless if their current living arrangement is in a dwelling that is inadequate; or has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable; or does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations. Homelessness as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics is divided into six categories. These categories comprise of people: living in improvised dwellings, tents or sleeping out; in supported accommodation; staying temporarily with other households; living in boarding houses; in other temporary lodgings; and living in severely crowded dwellings. Table 2. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology Year Headline estimate of homelessness (Individuals) % of total population ETHOS Light 1 People living rough ETHOS Light 2 People in emergency accommodation ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS

emergency accommodation ETHOS Light 3 People in accommodation for the homeless ETHOS Light 4 People living in institutions ETHOS Light 5 People living in unconventional dwellings ETHOS Light 6 People staying with family/friends 2021 122 494 0.48% 7 636 Included under ETHOS 3 24 286 Not included Included under

ETHOS 1

16 597

Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time • Data are comparable across years: Yes

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: Yes ‒ Refugees: Yes ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Yes Note: The headline estimate in Australia also includes people living in severely overcrowded dwellings.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), Census of Population and Housing.

Table 3. Data on people experiencing homelessness: Headline estimate, by sub-group and living situation Presented according to ETHOS Light Typology, 2021 Single adults Men Women Youth (aged 15-29) Older people (aged 65 and over) Families with children (# of households) Headline estimate of homelessness NA 68 516 53 974 38 345 8 452 NA As percentage of total population experiencing homelessness NA 55.9% 44.1% 31.3% 6.9% NA ETHOS Light 1: People living rough NA 5 066 2 566 1 071 823 NA ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation NA Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

NA 5 066 2 566 1 071 823 NA ETHOS Light 2: People in emergency accommodation NA Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

Included under

ETHOS 3

NA ETHOS Light 3: People in accommodation for the homeless NA 11 284 13 010 7 191 1 042 NA ETHOS Light 4: People living in institutions NA Not included Not included Not included Not included NA ETHOS Light 5: People living in unconventional dwellings NA Included under

ETHOS 1

Included under

ETHOS 1

Included under

ETHOS 1

Included under

ETHOS 1

NA ETHOS Light 6: People staying with family/friends NA 8 984 7 616 3 974 2 065 NA 3

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: AUSTRALIA © OECD 2026

Metadata: • Type of count: Point-in-time

• Included in headline estimate:

o Children: Yes o Temporary accommodation for: ‒ Asylum seekers: ‒ Refugees: ‒ Victims/survivors of domestic violence: Note: The headline estimate in Australia also includes people living in severely overcrowded dwellings. Sub-groups are not mutually exclusive.

Source: OECD Questionnaire on Affordable and Social Housing (QuASH); Australian Bureau of Statistics (2021), Census of Population and Housing.

Table 4. Legal framework to collect data on homelessness Legal framework Law that governs data collection on homelessness Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 Census and Statistics Act 1905 Australian institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987 Legal obligations There are no specific legal obligations relating to data collection for people experiencing homelessness. However, all individuals in Australia must respond to the census, including people experiencing

homelessness Australian Bureau of Statistics Act 1975 Census and Statistics Act 1905 Australian institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987 Legal obligations There are no specific legal obligations relating to data collection for people experiencing homelessness. However, all individuals in Australia must respond to the census, including people experiencing homelessness. The census must take place every five years. Furthermore, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which is responsible for the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC), must collect and produce health and welfare-related information in statistics. Table 5. Homelessness strategy Homelessness strategies in place National Homelessness Strategy National Homelessness Strategy: Homes for Australia: A National Plan Regional and/or local homelessness strategies exist Yes Table 6. Approaches to collect data on homelessness 6.1. Census of Population and Housing Description The Australian Bureau of Statistics Census estimates the number of people experiencing homelessness in August of the year of the Census (latest available data from 2021 Census; the 2026 Census was conducted in August 2026). Letters and Census paper forms are delivered in some areas, whilst visits are made to households in other areas. Households complete the Census for m and submit it online or send it back through the mail. The Census e mploys a homeless enumeration strategy that targets three streams of people on Census night: those who were not in a dwelling; those in a private dwelling; and those in a non-private dwelling (people in supported accommodation for the homeless, living in boarding houses, temporary lodgings).

Type of count generated Point-in-time Methods

• Population Census
• Street Count Lead authority(ies) Australian Bureau of Statistics Source(s) of information General population Scope National level Depth of data Demographic characteristics and living situation Frequency Every 5 years ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters)4 

Scope National level Depth of data Demographic characteristics and living situation Frequency Every 5 years ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters)4  DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: AUSTRALIA © OECD 2026

• ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 5: People in non-conventional dwellings (e.g. caravans, cars or tents) • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources Census | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au) Census of Population and Housing: Estimating Homelessness | Australian Bureau of Statistics (abs.gov.au)

6.2. Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC) Description The Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC) provided by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) collects information about people who are referred to, or seek assistance from, specialist homelessness services (SHS) agencies. The SHSC captures information on people seeking services from agencies that receive funding under the National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness (NASHH). All agencies that receive funding under the NASHH to provide specialist homelessness services are in scope for the SHS collection, although some agencies are exempt from supplying data. The AIHW receives and aggregates data from over 1 700 specialist homelessness services agencies across Australia on a monthly basis.

Type of count generated Flow (period) Methods Information management system on people experiencing or at risk of homelessness Lead authority(ies) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Source(s) of information Specialist homelessness services agencies Scope National coverage

Type of count generated Flow (period) Methods Information management system on people experiencing or at risk of homelessness Lead authority(ies) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Source(s) of information Specialist homelessness services agencies Scope National coverage Depth of data • Demographic characteristics (state, age, sex) • Additional breakdowns by specific target groups, the reasons clients sought assistance, homelessness status, clients receiving financial support for shortterm accommodation and nights in short-term accommodation Frequency Monthly ETHOS Light groups included: • ETHOS Light 1: Living on the streets, in public spaces • ETHOS Light 2: Emergency accommodation (e.g. shelters) • ETHOS Light 3: Accommodation for the homeless (e.g. hostels and women’s refuges) • ETHOS Light 6: Living temporarily with others in conventional housing (e.g. sofa-surfing) Note: Each ETHOS Light group includes one or more subcategories of living situations. ETHOS Light groups are considered as “included” in the data collection approach if at least one of the sub-categories is counted.

Notes and sources www.aihw.gov.au/about-our-data/our-data-collections/specialist-homelessness-services-collection/validata www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/specialist-homelessness-services-monthly-data/contents/monthly-data www.aihw.gov.au/reports-data/health-welfare-services/homelessness-services/overview

Please refer to the OECD Affordable Housing Database, indicator HC3.1.Population experiencing homelessness, https://www.oecd.org/content/oecd/en/data/datasets/oecd-affordable-housingdatabase.html. 5

DATA ON HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING EXCLUSION 2026: AUSTRALIA © OECD 2026

This work is issued under the responsibility of the Secretar y-General of the OECD, and does not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Member countries. This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no

This work is issued under the responsibility of the Secretar y-General of the OECD, and does not necessarily reflect the official views of OECD Member countries. This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. This document, as well as any data and map included here in, are without prejudice to the status of or sovereignty over any territory, to the delimitation of international frontiers and boundaries and to the name of any territory, city or area.

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