Indigenous homelessness 003-06010070

This is literally having nowhere to stay or go and is regarded as the worst form of homelessness. Also described as being without conventional accommodation (living on the streets, in deserted buildings, railway carriages, under bridges etc.)

This relates to separation from traditional land or from family. Also described as lacking a sense of belonging to a place or a community, or lacking knowledge of one’s identity and role in the Indigenous community.

Where this situation is causing considerable stress to families and communities. Over-crowding is a form of homelessness that is experienced disproportionately by Indigenous people, due largely to their socially disadvantaged position. In some cases, over-crowding may be preferable to literally living on the street. This is not a situation that many Indigenous people believe is acceptable or desirable.

Described as moving between various forms of temporary shelter including friends, relatives, youth refuges, night shelters, boarding houses, hostels and other forms of emergency accommodation. This results in temporary, intermittent and often cyclical patterns of homelessness. This relates to the necessity of a large proportion of the Indigenous population having to travel to obtain services.

This applies to individuals who have a home, but are forced to leave home to escape unstable situations for their own safety or survival, especially women and young people. The breakdown of traditional ways of dealing with violence through family and kinship networks may be a contributing factor to the homelessness experienced by victims of family and domestic violence.