Census Efforts Target Homeless Australians Amid Recognition Push

Efforts are underway to ensure that Australia's homeless population is accurately counted in the national Census, a crucial step for informing government policy and sector responses. Advocates emphasize the importance of capturing the number and profile of those sleeping rough, who often face significant hardships that make completing a Census form a low priority.

“

Some of the people who come into our service can't read or write, so it can make filling out a form quite daunting.

Services such as Pete's Place in Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, are on the front lines, providing essential support to individuals experiencing homelessness. The center, run by St Vincent de Paul, offers showers, laundry facilities, food, and caseworkers. Team leader Anna Millett highlights the barriers clients face, including difficulties with reading and writing, mental health issues, substance abuse, domestic violence, and youth homelessness, all of which can make form completion daunting.

“

Having a complete understanding of how many people are experiencing homelessness in Australia can inform government policy and how the sector as a whole responds to homelessness.

To address these challenges, Census field officers have been present at locations like Pete's Place and the Uniting Church Soup Kitchen. They are available to answer questions and, starting soon, will conduct face-to-face interviews with those willing to participate, using a simplified two-page homeless Census form. This approach aims to overcome literacy and trust issues, as some clients may mistrust government data protection.

“

We are onsite at support services, where people sleeping rough seek support, so places like soup kitchens [and] streetside medical facilities.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has collaborated with homeless services to develop effective data collection strategies. National spokesperson Emily Walter stated that the bureau is focusing on locations with known higher populations of people sleeping rough. By being present at support services during Census week and conducting interviews, the ABS aims to gather more inclusive and accurate data, ensuring that this often-overlooked population is counted.

“

Importantly, [we are] working really closely at those locations across Australia during the week of Census, to conduct face-to-face interviews with people sleeping rough.