The Salvation Army just released a report on their recent research into homeless in Australia. The study found the following:
- 155 Salvation Army homelessness services operate across Australia.
- More than 310,000 accommodation days were provided between 1 July 2012 and 31 December 2012
- 53% of women accessing Salvation Army SHS women’s services identified domestic and family violence as their main presenting issue.
- 44% of clients accessing Salvation Army SHS services identified housing affordability or housing crisis as their main presenting issue.
- One in five (20%) of clients accessing Salvation Army SHS services who provided information on their mental health have been diagnosed with a mental health issue.
- One out of every eight clients who accesses all Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) in Australia accesses a Salvation Army service.
- 17% of Salvation Army clients identified financial difficulty as their main presenting issue.
- 25% of clients accessing Salvation Army homelessness services have been homeless for more than six months.
- Over 80% of Salvation Army SHS clients identified government support payments as their main source of income.