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Report on Government Services 2015

Chapter 18, Volume G

Homelessness services

The Homelessness services chapter (chapter 18) of the Report on Government Services reports on the performance of governments in providing specialist homelessness services, and the people accessing these services.

The National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA) and the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH) provide the framework for Australian Government and State and Territory governments to work together to reduce homelessness and improve housing outcomes for Australians.

Data reported in this edition are sourced from the Specialist Homelessness Services data collection (SHSC).

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  • Key Facts
  • Indicator Framework
  • Indicator Results

Nationally, in 2013-14, homelessness services agencies provided support to an estimated 254 001 people. In 2013-14, homelessness services agencies provided a range of services to clients, including accommodation (34.4 per cent), assistance to sustain housing (26.9 per cent), domestic violence services (22.9 per cent), and other specialist services (13.7 per cent).

The overall aim of specialist homelessness services is to provide crisis and transitional supported accommodation and a range of related support services. Specialist homelessness agencies provide services to people who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness aimed at preventing them from becoming homeless, and to achieve the maximum possible degree of self reliance and independence.

Within this aim, the goals are to:

  • resolve crises
  • re-establish family links where appropriate
  • re-establish the capacity of clients to live independently, achieve sustainable housing and social inclusion
  • provide homelessness services in an equitable and efficient manner.

The performance indicator framework provides information on equity, efficiency and effectiveness, and distinguishes the outputs and outcomes of homelessness services. The performance indicator framework shows which data are complete and comparable in the 2015 Report.

Indicator Framework

An overview of the Homelessness services performance indicator results are presented. Information to assist the interpretation of these data can be found in the indicator interpretation boxes in the Homelessness services chapter and attachment tables.

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Equity — Access indicators

Access of special needs groups to homelessness services

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and their representation in the population
Representation among clients whose accommodation needs were met.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 24.0 11.3 32.6 43.4 27.9 15.1 18.2 74.8 26.3
2012-13 % 23.2 11.0 31.6 39.8 24.3 14.9 16.1 69.5 25.3
2011-12 % 23.6 10.1 30.4 40.4 na 14.9 16.1 71.8 25.1
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
Representation among clients whose need for services other than accommodation was met.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 20.4 5.2 26.1 23.5 20.3 12.0 11.6 67.1 14.1
2012-13 % 19.4 5.4 25.1 22.4 18.4 13.4 10.2 68.1 14.1
2011-12 % 18.6 4.7 22.6 22.2 na 14.3 9.9 59.0 12.7
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
Representation in the population, 2013.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 2.9 0.9 4.3 3.7 2.3 4.9 1.7 29.7 3.0
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
People born in non-main English-speaking countries, and their representation in the population
Representation among clients whose accommodation needs were met.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 11.7 15.4 8.0 9.9 6.2 3.9 17.0 3.3 11.0
2012-13 % 11.4 14.4 7.6 10.3 6.5 3.5 16.8 3.6 10.6
2011-12 % 11.0 12.8 6.7 10.6 na 4.0 14.4 4.1 9.7
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
Representation among clients whose need for services other than accommodation was met.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 8.9 13.2 7.5 12.3 6.0 4.8 16.1 2.0 10.6
2012-13 % 7.8 13.1 7.2 13.8 5.5 3.5 16.2 1.8 10.3
2011-12 % 8.5 10.5 5.6 12.2 na 4.0 14.3 2.5 9.4
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
Representation in the population, 2011.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 24.6 25.4 19.8 29.2 21.5 11.3 23.5 15.2 23.7
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
People with disability, and their representation in the population
Representation among clients whose accommodation needs were met, 2013-14.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 3.1 4.9 2.9 3.1 1.9 3.8 2.8 2.2 3.4
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
Representation among clients whose need for services other than accommodation was met, 2013-14.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 2.1 2.6 2.6 2.3 1.2 4.7 2.1 3.3 2.4
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.
Representation in the population, 2012.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
% 6.4 6.4 5.5 4.9 6.9 7.7 5.2 3.8 6.1
Source: Attachment tables 18A.5-8.

Effectiveness indicators

Development of case management plan

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Closed support periods - Development of a case management plan.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 58.5 38.2 72.7 48.2 30.6 48.4 50.1 72.4 48.2
2012-13 % 56.6 33.4 69.7 50.2 36.4 56.9 45.6 63.5 45.7
2011-12 % 55.1 31.5 61.3 58.4 34.0 54.2 43.0 60.5 44.1
Source: Attachment tables 18A.11 and 18A.14.

Match of needs of clients

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Closed support periods - Accommodation and accommodation related assistance - directly provided by agency visited and provided and referred by agency visited.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 64.0 45.4 59.7 72.9 89.3 49.6 46.1 89.2 58.7
2012-13 % 63.0 44.5 63.0 73.2 95.9 67.0 43.6 89.5 59.7
2011-12 % 64.4 42.7 60.0 73.6 na 61.0 43.8 86.1 57.7
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment tables 18A.11 and 18A.14.

Efficiency indicators

Cost per completed support period

Data for this indicator not complete or not directly comparable.

Cost per completed support period.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 $ 2255 1120 2010 2550 1767 2903 3682 1080 1683
2012-13 $ 2248 1131 1815 2535 1974 2786 3863 887 1674
2011-12 $ 2246 1178 1800 2588 2280 2353 3969 1532 1743
Source: Attachment tables 18A.18-20.

Cost per client

Data for this indicator not complete or not directly comparable.

Cost per client.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 $ 2674 1910 2422 3205 2696 3796 4147 1339 2437
2012-13 $ 2610 1976 2194 3186 2669 3303 4432 1112 2407
2011-12 $ 2589 2042 2189 3225 2866 2823 4111 1756 2453
Source: Attachment tables 18A.18-20.

Cost per day of support

Data for this indicator not complete or not directly comparable.

Cost per day of support.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 $ 27 28 38 39 28 50 28 16 30
2012-13 $ 24 29 35 36 25 40 29 30 29
Source: Attachment tables 18A.18-20.

Outcome indicators

Achievement of employment on exit

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Closed support periods - Proportion of clients who needed employment and/or training assistance who were employed after support.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 20.8 14.5 15.5 15.8 20.2 9.7 23.5 15.0 17.7
2012-13 % 21.9 14.8 16.5 16.2 15.7 14.9 26.0 24.8 18.8
2011-12 % 23.7 15.4 15.7 22.4 na 13.4 20.6 28.0 20.1
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment table 18A.21.

Achievement of income on exit

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Closed support periods - Proportion of clients who needed income assistance who had an income source after support.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 92.6 94.3 94.4 93.9 87.5 95.4 95.6 95.6 93.6
2012-13 % 93.4 94.0 94.5 96.0 85.4 91.6 97.2 95.5 93.9
2011-12 % 94.5 95.0 94.7 93.4 na 92.4 96.5 95.1 94.5
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment table 18A.24.

Achievement of independent housing on exit

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Closed support periods - Proportion of clients who needed assistance to obtain or maintain independent housing who obtained or maintained independent housing after support.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 64.8 61.7 61.7 62.3 67.2 62.2 62.6 56.4 63.0
2012-13 % 63.8 61.3 59.3 64.0 64.5 53.6 47.9 45.2 61.2
2011-12 % 57.5 59.2 54.3 66.5 na 52.1 52.4 48.3 58.0
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment table 18A.26.

Proportion of people experiencing repeat periods of homelessness

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Proportion of people experiencing repeat periods of homelessness.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 6.1 4.5 5.0 5.2 8.7 4.8 6.5 5.0 5.0
2012-13 % 5.7 4.0 4.7 5.1 3.7 4.5 7.4 4.8 4.3
2011-12 % 6.4 4.8 5.5 4.9 2.6 5.2 12.5 6.2 5.1
Source: Attachment table 18A.31.

Goals achieved on exit from service

Data for this indicator are comparable, subject to caveats.

Proportion of closed support periods with individual case management plan where half or more or all case management goals were achieved.
  NSW Vic Qld WA SA Tas ACT NT Aust
2013-14 % 64.3 73.3 77.4 57.4 na 56.6 67.6 63.9 72.0
2012-13 % 61.2 70.1 72.0 53.3 90.3 56.7 62.6 56.8 68.0
2011-12 % 61.9 68.3 57.9 53.4 60.5 51.8 58.7 49.2 61.5
Legend: na Not available.
Source: Attachment table 18A.33.