Report: Domestic violence leading to more homeless women across Australia

THOUSANDS of South Australian kids are homeless or at risk of homelessness, with boys under 10 now the largest group among males likely to be without a stable home, according to a report being released.

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THOUSANDS of South Australian children are homeless or at risk of homelessness, new statistics show, with boys under 10 now the largest group among males likely to be without a stable home.

Disturbing figures show 1500 girls under 10 and 1500 boys under 10 needing help from homeless services.

Family violence means that for the first time more women than men are homeless in Australia; the report found domestic and family violence is the main reason women and children leave their homes.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare will release its Specialist homelessness services annual report 2016-17 today.

Shelter SA executive director Alice Clark said there were shrinking options for people looking for accommodation thanks to a sell-off of public housing.

She said those sleeping rough were a small minority of the overall homeless, and many more ended up sleeping in cars or on couches.

SA is bucking the national trend, and still has more men than women considered homeless.

A particular concern, she said, were “the numbers of children ending up entering into these situations with their mum if she’s experiencing domestic violence ... or even on their own”.

SA is bucking the national trend, and still has more men than women considered homeless. Dr Clarke said there seemed to be more visible homeless men because women were more motivated to seek shelter.

“Women are more likely to be staying with a friend, accessing shelter accommodation, staying in a motel, trying not to be on the street. Especially if they have children,” she said.

In SA, the biggest group of homeless, or, at risk, males were those aged under 10, while for females it is women aged 25 to 34.

About 5600 women sought help from a homeless agency last year because of interpersonal issues including sexual abuse and violence, as did about 1200 men. They sought help for issues ranging from accommodation to food to advice.

Nationally, 54,169 homeless men sought help overall, compared to 57,547 women. People are considered homeless if they have no shelter, improvised shelter, short-term accommodation or if they are car or couch surfing.

AIHW spokesman Matthew James said the statistics showed agencies were helping people at risk into housing and that they were increasingly going into private housing.

He pointed out that many clients who had to come back for more help had mental health conditions, drug or alcohol issues, or were exiting custody.

“This suggests that many clients have complex issues, requiring long-term assistance,” he said.

Communities and Social Inclusion Minister Zoe Bettison said the State Government put about $64 million a year into about 80 homelessness programs, including a range of housing options. She pointed to “innovative responses” including the Inner City Street Crew, Street-to-Home and the Zero Project.

“Family violence is a significant driver of homelessness and many of these programs are specifically focused on supporting women and children into safe and secure accommodation,” she said.

“SA also has almost double the national average of social housing with six per cent of all properties in the state publicly owned.”