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The YWCA Australia comissioned City Futures Research Centre to conduct a data audit concerning homelessness and housing security with a focus on gender. An examination of open data in Australia was undertaken, and insights from the findings were provided.

YWCA Australia and 91É«ÇéƬ City Futures Research Centre have released a research reportÌýthat sheds light on the complex landscape of homelessness in Australia, particularly the unique challenges faced by women, First Nations women, and young people.Ìý Ìý

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Key findings include:

• While homelessness rates and numbers for men have decreased, women experienced an increase in both estimated numbers and rates of homelessness at the 2021 Census.ÌýÌý
• First Nations populations witnessed a 6 per cent rise in experiences of homelessness, and First Nations women constituted nearly 23 per cent of all people experiencing homelessness in 2021.Ìý
• Women single parents experiencing homelessness outnumbered their male counterparts in every state.ÌýÌý
• Young people are significantly impacted by the housing and rental affordability crisis, comprising almost half of the population experiencing homelessness in 2021.ÌýÌý
• Around 49 per cent of the total number of people experiencing homelessness are young people and 57 per cent of people in inadequate housing are young people.ÌýÌý
• Tasmania experienced substantial increases in rates of homelessness, while New South Wales, Northern Territory, and Queensland showed overall declines.Ìý
• Women experienced increased rates of homelessness in Tasmania, Victoria, and South Australia by around 16 per cent.Ìý
• In the Northern Territory, homelessness rates are 10 per cent higher for women than men.Ìý Ìý
• Women make up the majority of all users of specialist homelessness services (SHS) at 60 per cent.ÌýÌý
• Family and domestic violence remains the leading factor (35 per cent) driving women to seek SHS assistance.Ìý
• Housing, including access and affordability, was the predominant reason for people with a disability accessing SHS.ÌýÌý