Homelessness Census 2021

Continuing high rates of homelessness in Australia are prompting calls for a national coordinated plan across prevention, early intervention, housing and support. It comes as the Australian Bureau of Statistics releases the latest estimates from its 2021 Census on homelessness.

Read our analysis of the key findings below.

On Census night in 2021, 122,487 people were identified as experiencing homelessness across Australia, increasing from 116,367 in 2016. The Australian homelessness rate (per 10,000 estimated resident population) dropped from 49.8 in 2016 to 48.2 in 2021.

The Australian Homelessness Atlas 2021 Census

Homelessness across Australia

• NSW experienced the largest drop in the homelessness rate between 2016 and 2021, while there were large increases in the homelessness rate in both Tasmania and Victoria.
• In Western Australia, 9,729 people were identified as experiencing homelessness on Census night. The Western Australian homelessness rate rose marginally from 36.4 in 2016 to 36.6 in 2021 after a period of decline in homelessness rates as measured by the Census. There was a very sharp and alarming increase in rough sleeping in Western Australia in 2021 compared with 2016 (from 1,083 on Census night in 2016 to 2,315 in 2021), which would have resulted in a significant increase in the overall homelessness rate for Western Australia had it not been for falls in other categories of homelessness. Nationally, persons living in improvised dwellings decreased by 6.9%.
• The Northern Territory continues to exhibit a homelessness rate well above the national average. NSW experienced the largest drop in the homelessness rate between 2016 and 2021
  

Homelessness by gender and age

• There is a higher proportion of males experiencing homelessness than females in every category except for those aged 12-18 years. However, growth in homelessness among women outstrips men overall; 10.1% between 2016 and 2021 compared with 1.6% for men. The largest increase in homelessness for women is for those aged 35-45 and girls under 18. There was also a large increase in homelessness for boys under 18 between 2016 and 2021.
• Those under 25 represent 37.4% of those experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021.

Homelessness by Census operational group

• The largest proportionate increase in homelessness between 2016 and 2021 was persons living in boarding houses or other temporary lodgings, up 43% from 2016 to 2021.
• Trends in rough sleeping, supported accommodation, temporary accommodation and boarding houses are affected by state/territory COVID-19 lockdown provisions and policy responses to accommodating rough sleepers. Over 40% of people experiencing homelessness in Regional and Remote Western Australia were living in severely crowded dwellings.

Indigenous homelessness

• Across Australia, Indigenous homelessness rates far exceed non-Indigenous rates. However, the national Indigenous homelessness rate decreased by 15% between 2016 and 2021 down to 306.8 per 10,000 from 361 in 2016.

National Structure of Homelessness

• Across Australia, Indigenous homelessness rates far exceed non-Indigenous rates. However, the national Indigenous homelessness rate decreased by 15% between 2016 and 2021 down to 306.8 per 10,000 from 361 in 2016.
• Persons living in improvised dwellings decreased overall by 6.9% in Australia between 2016 and 2021. However, there is a high degree of volatility in state and territory rough sleeping trends. Rough sleeping in WA increased by 113.8% while NSW decreased by 62.8%.
• Persons in supported accommodation increased by 14% from 2016 to 2021.
• The largest proportionate increase in homelessness between 2016 and 2021 was persons living in boarding houses or other temporary lodgings, up 43% from 2016 to 2021.
• 39% of people experiencing homelessness in Australia were living in severely crowded dwellings on Census night in 2021.

Continuing high rates of homelessness in Australia call for a national coordinated plan across prevention, early intervention, housing and support.

See our review of homelessness in Australia and our policy recommendations to end homelessness in the following publication Ending homelessness in Australia : An evidence and policy deep dive. Perth: Centre for Social Impact, The University of Western Australia and the University of New South Wales. https://doi.org/10.25916/ntba-f006