Call Unanswered: Unmet Demand for Specialist Homelessness Services

This report examines the growing unmet demand for specialist homelessness services (SHS) in Australia, contextualized within a severe housing and cost-of-living crisis. The analysis highlights that over 250,000 Australians were assisted by SHS in 2022–23, yet an estimated 3 million individuals were at risk of homelessness in 2022 due to financial and social vulnerabilities. Survey findings from 23 SHS providers illustrate systemic challenges, including inadequate resources leading to unaddressed service calls, unmet accommodation needs, and increased client complexity. The report underscores the urgency of interventions, including expanded funding for SHS, enhanced data collection, and housing-first policies modeled after successful international approaches. Recommendations aim to stabilize the homelessness crisis by preventing evictions, increasing social housing, and ensuring equitable service access.