Mission Australia’s research reignites its urgent call for more government investment in prevention services to help end homelessness in the country.
The Tenancy Support Impact Summary – Safe and secure homes: Stopping homelessness before it begins examined the impact of five years of Mission Australia’s tenancy support services. The study found that by providing tailored support at the point in time it was needed, almost all (98%) of the people who accessed these services remained living in their homes and avoided homelessness.
“This snapshot confirms that early intervention tenancy support is one of the most effective ways Australia can prevent homelessness,” Mission Australia Deputy CEO Ben Carblis said. “A safe, secure and truly affordable home is more than just shelter; it’s the foundation people need to build their lives, find hope and plan for their future.”
Demand for Mission Australia’s tenancy support services has surged to an all-time high, with a 52% increase in people seeking assistance between 2023 and 2024. The fastest growing groups of people seeking support over the last 12 months are employed people, young people and those escaping domestic and family violence.
“More people than ever are asking for our help to remain living in their homes or to move into safer, more secure housing. This new research shows that Mission Australia’s tenancy support services work incredibly well to help people get the support they need, before they lose their home and are pushed into homelessness,” Carblis said.
Other key findings include the following:
- Four in five people who received support reported improved overall wellbeing.
- Many who received support experienced better mental health and less stress, often linked to having a safe, secure home.
- While most relied on income support payments, one in seven people accessing tenancy support services over the last 12 months were employed, showing housing insecurity impacts a wide range of people across Australia.
According to Carblis, the study sends a clear message: governments must invest in proven services that keep people housed and significantly boost the supply of genuinely affordable housing if we are to have any hope of ending Australia’s homelessness crisis.
“Our homelessness system sees too much time and resources spent on supporting people in crisis rather than on preventing them from reaching that point in their lives. By intervening early to prevent homelessness, we’re both supporting people to stay living in their homes and reducing the cost to governments,” Carblis explained.
Mission Australia is then calling for a $500 million Homelessness Prevention Transformation Fund to expand targeted programs and drive policy reforms aimed at preventing homelessness before it occurs. This includes investment in tenancy support services, such as theirs, which provide tailored, person-centred support to help people stay safely housed and avoid homelessness altogether.
“Homelessness is solvable. With the right support, investment and collective action, together we can end homelessness in Australia,” Carblis added.
Read also: Housing crisis: Almost 70% of renters worry about asking for repairs
Geraldine is currently the Content Producer for Third Sector, an Akolade channel. Throughout her career, she has written for various industries and international audiences. Her love for writing extends beyond the corporate world, as she also works as a volunteer writer at her local church. Aside from writing, she is also fond of joining fun runs and watching musicals.
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