I am here today to bring awareness to the increase in homelessness in Australia. Homelessness is a severe social problem that affects people, families, and communities all over the world. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, over 116,000 people were reported to be homeless in the 2016 Census in Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2016). This has increased by 5.2% since then and was recorded to be affecting 122,494 individuals at the time of the 2021 Census. This shows that current policies and efforts to combat homelessness are outdated and ineffective. Homelessness has increased since Covid. The unemployment rate has risen. The cost of living has gone up. Policies have not changed to meet these increases. It is worrying that many people in this country do not have a safe and secure place to live. This major problem comes from many issues, including the lack of affordable housing, the rise of unemployment, and personal issues such as domestic violence.
The lack of affordable housing is a significant factor contributing to homelessness in Australia. The cost of housing has skyrocketed over the last few years. This is making it
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Aboriginal people make up one in five homeless Australians (Hannam, 2023). This is due to not having the same access to affordable and secure housing (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008). Everyone deserves to live in a secure environment. Everyone deserves to live without fear of losing their house. Additionally, it is more common for survivors of domestic violence to be homeless. Due to the financial strain and potential income loss, it can be challenging for survivors of domestic abuse to afford housing. Many victims must choose whether to stay in an abusive relationship or leave with nowhere else to go. We must guarantee that those who experience domestic violence have access to safe housing and the necessary support services to assist