USING NEW DATA AND MODELLING ENTRY AND EXITS INTO HOMELESSNESS BEGINS TO EXPLAIN HOW INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCES AND STRUCTURAL FACTORS LEAD TO HOMELESSNESS IN AUSTRALIA
Key Points:
- Of key importance for this project is its research methodology as it is the first to combine housing and labour market data with Journey’s Home survey data. It developed three models to examine the probability of entry into and exits from homelessness.
- Men are prone to higher rates of homelessness. They are more likely to become homeless and less likely to exit homelessness.
- Individuals who are married or in a de facto relationship are less likely to enter homelessness but if they do, there is a significantly lower likelihood of escape. Long-term ill-health issues do not affect people’s likelihood of entering homelessness. People diagnosed with mental health issues have lower risk of entering homelessness and higher chance of exiting homelessness.
- Drinking and drug taking at risky levels, and recent incarceration raises the chances of entering homelessness, as does a previous spell of homelessness. These personal characteristics correlate with a higher risk of becoming and remaining homeless irrespective of the condition of local housing and labour markets.
- The risk of becoming and remaining homeless is more closely tied to the condition of local housing and labour markets for those who have not engaged in risky behaviours. Their chances of becoming homeless are greater in regions with higher median rents and slack labour markets.
- Exiting homelessness is much more likely for some groups than others, such as those with a recent connection to the labour market and younger people.