Data on homelessness and housing exclusion 2026: Australia

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 (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)

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 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: Children: Yes 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
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
Metadata: Type of count: Point-in-time Included in headline estimate: Children: Yes 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. 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 form and submit it online or send it back through the mail. The Census employs 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) 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)
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	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 short-term 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)
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-housing-database.html.

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Notes

← 1. Note: 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.

← 2. Note: 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.