Northern Territory leads country in shocking rates of Indigenous homelessness

Indigenous Territorians are almost 40 times more likely to be experiencing homelessness than the national average, new census data reveals.

Residents at White Gate, a camp outside of Alice Springs, are forced to sleep outside due to living conditions in the small tin sheds they call home. Picture: Supplied

One in five Indigenous Territorians are living without adequate shelter, a rate of homelessness almost 40 times that of the national average.

The shocking figures, revealed in newly released census data, show the NT continues to lead the country in the number of First Nations people living in severely overcrowded homes, temporary accommodation or without a roof over their head.

It comes despite a significant improvement in the figures since 2006, with the number of homeless falling from 13,921 to 11,394.

Across Australia “severe” overcrowding was the most common form of homelessness for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, accounting for 60 per cent of those captured in the census.

Aboriginal Housing NT chief executive Skye Thompson said overcrowding was a form of “hidden homelessness”.

“We’ve got to come up with something different because we’re in a crisis,” she said.

Run down, three-bedroom homes commonly housed dozens of people spanning four or five generations, Ms Thompson said.

Aboriginal Housing Northern Territory CEO Skye Thompson. Picture: Supplied.

“These severe living conditions have a real impact on social outcomes and economic outcomes, being able to work and bring in income and feed a whole family.”

Ms Thompson called for more investment in remote communities, alongside boosting the number of houses to meet demand.

“We need a broad holistic model,” she said.

“It’s the local jobs, traineeships, community service delivery that will bring back the pride and the opportunity for people to live in remote communities and homelands.

“It’s not going to happen overnight, it’s a long-term investment and Aboriginal community controlled organisations need to be involved to be able to pivot what’s been happening.”

The NT was the only state or territory to record a drop in the number of Indigenous homeless between the 2016 and 2021 census.

Head of NT Shelter Peter McMillan said the drop was thanks to homes being built in remote communities and a drop in the number of people experiencing severe overcrowding, but said the figures should be approached with “some caution”.

“I’m not surprised to see a decrease, but it’s a bit surprising there’s that much of a drop,” Mr McMillan said.

“The ABS census night is just one snapshot every five years and Covid was happening during that time, there may have been reasons people were away from communities or in different places.

“There are still shocking rates of homelessness and overcrowding – a lot more needs to be done.”

NT SHelters Peter McMillan.

The joint Commonwealth and Territory government commitment to build 1950 new bedrooms in 650 houses in remote communities missed its five-year deadline in June, with only 1577 completed.

A further $223m of joint funding was announced to meet the target and add another 157 more homes.

In 2021, 18.85 per cent of Indigenous Territorians were homeless, compared with 3.07 per cent of Indigenous Australians and 0.48 per cent of the general population.

Nationally, 26.2 per cent of First Nations people homeless on census night were aged between 12 and 24 years old, and slightly more than half were women.

It comes as St Vincent de Paul Society this week announced it was in negotiations with the Territory government to explore homelessness and affordable housing options.

This included making better use of existing land and redevelopment in an attempt to address the 5000-long waitlist for public housing.

“We are not surprised at these statistics,” Vinnies Northern Territory President Jocelyn Cull said.

“We help people every day but are acutely aware of the fact that their options are limited as they are forced to seek help many times over simply because there is no resolution.

“We know that housing is the first step to helping people get on with their lives and achieve their full potential.”