CAFS STUDY
HOMELESSNESS
• prevalence of each group within the community
The prevalence of homelessness varies over time, but the fact remains that people within this
marginalised group lack a safe and nurturing home environment, a private place they feel
comfortable and don’t feel settled or like they belong.
• individual diversity within each group
Homeless people come from all different age groups, SES, gender, sexual orientation,
cultures, and races. There are varying degrees of homelessness.
Primary Homelessness Without conventional accommodation, such as people living
on the street, in parks, under bridges, in derelict buildings, in
improvised dwellings.
Secondary Homelessness Various forms of temporary shelter, staying with friends,
emergency accommodation, youth refuges, hostels, and
boarding houses.
Tertiary Homelessness People living in single rooms in private boarding houses,
without their own bathroom, kitchen or security of tenancy.
• terminology used by the community to describe the group
Positive Negative
Homeless Beggars
Disadvantaged Drug addicts
Struggling Alcoholics
victims Lazy, scary, scum, povo
Uneducated
Hobo
helpless
Impact: creates low self-esteem encouraging disconnect reinforcing the lack of community
support.
ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR THE FOUR SPECIFIC GROUPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
Satisfaction of Needs
Need Description
Adequate Standard Require access to services that provide accommodation and
of Living social support. Great demand on services can reduce availability.
Some organisations provide food, but this is not enough and
foraging from bins and relying on handouts does not sustain diet.
Case studies establish homeless mothers neglect their own
physiological needs so their children’s can be met.
Health Homeless people generally have health issues that are more
severe than others. Health issues can cause homelessness but
will worsen if left untreated. A homeless person may not have a
Medicare card to make a trip to the doctors or hospital much
more difficult
, Education Without education, it can be hard to move on from the stage of
homelessness. Many homeless people do not have financial
means to access education services. Many volunteer support
services provide opportunities for people who are homeless to
acquire skills which can encourage them to seek employment.
Employment many homeless people are unemployed. Factors such as low self-
esteem, a lack of social skills, major health issues and difficulties
to be settled can all attribute to the hardship of seeking
employment, it is the difficulty of securing employment that
makes I difficult to access basic necessities.
Security and Safety People who are homeless are among the most vulnerable people
in society. Streets and shelter offer very little privacy and
protection, there is normally no place to secure valuables safely.
Sense of Identity A person’s identity comes from employment, family life and
other social activities. This may cause difficulty in someone who
is homeless. Negative interaction with the community can also
cause lower self-worth.
The two most significant needs for homeless people are adequate standard of living and
safety and security.
Types of Services
Service Description Relevant examples
Financial Support Financial Support is monetary - Centrelink
assistance for homeless citizens. - Kickstart
- Rent assist
- CBA provides money
for women in
domestic violence
- The Big Issue
- Crisis Centres
Transport Transport is services that help a Public Transport
person from getting to one place to
another
Accommodation and Accommodation and housing for Father Chris O’Reily Youth
Housing homeless people is inclusive of off the Streets
crisis shelters and public housing Crisis centres
for shelter and security Mission Australia
Red Cross
Rent Assist
Refuges
Health Care Provides through hospital and Medicare
community Health Services. NSW Public hospitals
Health hire health workers to Ambulance
provide basic care and assessment Beyond blue/ Black dog
to homeless people Soup kitchen
Salvation Army
Lifeline
HOMELESSNESS
• prevalence of each group within the community
The prevalence of homelessness varies over time, but the fact remains that people within this
marginalised group lack a safe and nurturing home environment, a private place they feel
comfortable and don’t feel settled or like they belong.
• individual diversity within each group
Homeless people come from all different age groups, SES, gender, sexual orientation,
cultures, and races. There are varying degrees of homelessness.
Primary Homelessness Without conventional accommodation, such as people living
on the street, in parks, under bridges, in derelict buildings, in
improvised dwellings.
Secondary Homelessness Various forms of temporary shelter, staying with friends,
emergency accommodation, youth refuges, hostels, and
boarding houses.
Tertiary Homelessness People living in single rooms in private boarding houses,
without their own bathroom, kitchen or security of tenancy.
• terminology used by the community to describe the group
Positive Negative
Homeless Beggars
Disadvantaged Drug addicts
Struggling Alcoholics
victims Lazy, scary, scum, povo
Uneducated
Hobo
helpless
Impact: creates low self-esteem encouraging disconnect reinforcing the lack of community
support.
ISSUES OF CONCERN FOR THE FOUR SPECIFIC GROUPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY
Satisfaction of Needs
Need Description
Adequate Standard Require access to services that provide accommodation and
of Living social support. Great demand on services can reduce availability.
Some organisations provide food, but this is not enough and
foraging from bins and relying on handouts does not sustain diet.
Case studies establish homeless mothers neglect their own
physiological needs so their children’s can be met.
Health Homeless people generally have health issues that are more
severe than others. Health issues can cause homelessness but
will worsen if left untreated. A homeless person may not have a
Medicare card to make a trip to the doctors or hospital much
more difficult
, Education Without education, it can be hard to move on from the stage of
homelessness. Many homeless people do not have financial
means to access education services. Many volunteer support
services provide opportunities for people who are homeless to
acquire skills which can encourage them to seek employment.
Employment many homeless people are unemployed. Factors such as low self-
esteem, a lack of social skills, major health issues and difficulties
to be settled can all attribute to the hardship of seeking
employment, it is the difficulty of securing employment that
makes I difficult to access basic necessities.
Security and Safety People who are homeless are among the most vulnerable people
in society. Streets and shelter offer very little privacy and
protection, there is normally no place to secure valuables safely.
Sense of Identity A person’s identity comes from employment, family life and
other social activities. This may cause difficulty in someone who
is homeless. Negative interaction with the community can also
cause lower self-worth.
The two most significant needs for homeless people are adequate standard of living and
safety and security.
Types of Services
Service Description Relevant examples
Financial Support Financial Support is monetary - Centrelink
assistance for homeless citizens. - Kickstart
- Rent assist
- CBA provides money
for women in
domestic violence
- The Big Issue
- Crisis Centres
Transport Transport is services that help a Public Transport
person from getting to one place to
another
Accommodation and Accommodation and housing for Father Chris O’Reily Youth
Housing homeless people is inclusive of off the Streets
crisis shelters and public housing Crisis centres
for shelter and security Mission Australia
Red Cross
Rent Assist
Refuges
Health Care Provides through hospital and Medicare
community Health Services. NSW Public hospitals
Health hire health workers to Ambulance
provide basic care and assessment Beyond blue/ Black dog
to homeless people Soup kitchen
Salvation Army
Lifeline
