Census Night 2021
122,494 people
estimated to experience homelessness on census night, 2021.
44.1%
proportion of people who were female experiencing homelessness.
23%
were aged 12 - 24 years.
101,675
number of clients assisted
60.2%
proportion of clients who were female
41.1%
proportion of female clients who were a lone parent.
The Victorian rate of homelessness assistance (1 in 64 people) was higher than the national rate (1 in 94 people).
Furthermore, the Victorian assistance rate was 91.6 per 10,000 persons for female clients compared with 63.2 per 10,000 persons for male clients (average of Victorian LGAs; see figure 25).
Victorians aged under 35 make up the majority of those experiencing homelessness, however, older women are a fast-growing cohort. Among Victorian females, the leading reasons for seeking assistance are family and domestic violence, financial difficulties, housing affordability stress, housing crisis, inadequate or inappropriate dwelling conditions, relationship/family breakdown, lack of family/community support, and mental health issues.