Record Homelessness Should Shock Australia into Action This Homelessness Week - Salvos call for urgent action as homelessness reaches record levels

The Salvation Army

4 August 2026

Record Homelessness Should Shock Australia into Action This Homelessness Week

Salvos call for urgent action as homelessness reaches record levels

With more Australians experiencing homelessness than ever before, The Salvation Army says the nation's housing crisis has escalated into a national emergency.

As Homelessness Week (3–9 August) begins, the Salvos say record homelessness levels should be unacceptable in a country like Australia, warning the crisis is no longer confined to those sleeping rough but is increasingly affecting families, children, workers and older Australians.

More than 122,000 people are now experiencing homelessness across Australia, while almost 289,000 people sought support from The Salvation Army’s homelessness services in the past year. At the same time, nearly 169,000 households remain on public housing waitlists nationwide, highlighting a housing system under immense strain.

The Salvation Army’s 2026 Red Shield Report, which surveyed more than 4,400 people who accessed Salvation Army emergency relief services across Australia, reinforces the scale of the crisis. The report found:

• 75% of respondents were experiencing housing stress, rising to 86% among private renters.
• 60% had been unable to pay their rent or mortgage on time during the previous year.
• 37%feared losing their home altogether.
• 16% had couch surfed or lived in their car during the previous 12 months.
• Almost two-thirds (64%) of households with children could not afford winter clothing or shoes for their children.

The Salvation Army’s Head of Homelessness, Jed Donoghue, said the organisation is seeing increasing numbers of Australians who never imagined they would need homelessness support.

“Rising rents, limited housing and ongoing cost-of-living pressures are pushing more Australians to breaking point. We’re seeing working people, families, older women and young people seeking homelessness support because they simply can’t afford a safe place to live,” Dr. Donoghue said.

“Homelessness is about much more than sleeping rough. People are living in cars, couch surfing or staying in overcrowded homes because they have nowhere else to go.

One woman from New South Wales described the daily reality of living in her car:

“I cannot cook properly as I am living in my car… I have many sleepless nights worrying about where my next meal is going to come from or how I am going to put fuel in the car for the next day to be able to drive to a toilet.”

Contrary to common perceptions, rough sleeping accounts for only 6.2% of homelessness in Australia. The most common form is severely overcrowded housing, affecting 39% of people experiencing homelessness.

Women and children account for almost three-quarters of people seeking assistance from The Salvation Army’s homelessness services, while more than 50,000 young people required support last year. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples also remain disproportionately represented among Australians experiencing homelessness.

As demand continues to grow, The Salvation Army’s homelessness services provided significant support over the past year, including:

• Almost 339,000 sessions of care.
• More than 653,000 crisis accommodation bed nights.
• More than 1.3 million meals through residential services.
• Support for nearly 35,000 people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

Throughout Homelessness Week, Salvos teams and communities across the country will host sleep outs, community forums, fundraising activities and awareness events to shine a light on homelessness and encourage Australians to be part of the solution.

“This Homelessness Week we’re calling on governments, communities and Australians to work together to increase the supply of safe, affordable housing and ensure people have the support they need before they reach crisis point.” Says Dr. Donoghue.

The Salvation Army is calling for:

• Early intervention and homelessness prevention programs.
• Housing First approaches that prioritise permanent housing solutions.
• Greater investment in wraparound support services to help people sustain long-term housing.
• Increased investment in social and affordable housing.

Without urgent action, The Salvation Army warns more Australians will continue to fall into homelessness and housing insecurity, despite safe and secure housing being something every Australian deserves.

For more information on how to get involved in Homelessness Week, or if you need support from the Salvos, visit Homelessness Week 2026 | The Salvation Army Australia or call 13 SALVOS.

ENDS

For more information, please contact The Salvation Army’s Media Relations Department on (02) 94663143

*The Salvation Army Annual Report 2025