Definition of homelessness

Homeless people are those who:
– ‘sleep rough’ on the streets and in parks
– move between temporary shelter that may include couch surfing, emergency accommodation, refuges and hostels; or
– live in private boarding houses, without their own bathroom or kitchen and without security of tenure

The hidden homeless
According to the 2011 ABS Census of Population and Housing 94% of people who are experiencing homelessness are not on the streets.  Homelessness Australia identifies four key groups of people who are often overlooked and undercounted when it comes to finding the homeless:

– Women and children homeless because of domestic and family violence
– The old and young staying with other households
– People in housing crisis
– Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People