Work

How many Australian veterans are homeless? Reporting prevalence findings and method from a national study

Year: 2020

Type: article

Abstract: This article presents findings from an Australian study of veteran homelessness (Hilferty, Katz et al. 2019). The AHURI Inquiry into Homelessness Amongst Australian Veterans was funded by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) to estimate the number of homeless veterans and to examine veterans' pathways into homelessness, service usage patterns and ways that service responses may be improved. This article presents the prevalence findings and describes the method employed by the research team. Drawing on primary data and extrapolating results to a larger sample of veterans, the researchers estimate that approximately 5,800 contemporary veterans experience homelessness over a 12‐month period in Australia. This estimate – the first ever to be based on primary data – indicates that veteran homelessness is a much larger problem than previously estimated and deserves priority attention from policymakers and sectoral representatives.

Source: Australian Journal of Social Issues

DOI: 10.1002/ajs4.123

Authors: Fiona Hilferty, Ilan Katz, Miranda Van Hooff, Ellie Lawrence‐Wood

Institutions: The University of Melbourne, UNSW Sydney, The Hospital Research Foundation Group, The University of Adelaide

Language: English

Topic: Homelessness and Social Issues

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Department of Veterans' Affairs, Australian Government