Rise in Australians using homeless services

More than 19,000 people sleep in crisis accommodation each night and 230,000, or one in 98, used specialist homeless services in 2011/12, the latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows on Tuesday. The report shows 128,378 people using those services were at risk of homelessness. Children under 17 made up 29 per cent of that total, with kids under 10 accounting for 17 per cent. Young people aged 18-24 had the highest level of need, with one in every 56 accessi ng services. Young women in that age group had an even higher representation, at one in 42. A major cause of homelessness in Australia was domestic violence, AIHW spokesman Geoff Neideck said. Overall, Victoria had the highest number of people needing help, followed by NSW and Queensland. While 86 per cent of those seeking services were born in Australia, New Zealand, Sudan and UK were the top three countries for migrants needing help. And indigenous people were over- represented in the overall count of people seeking homeless services. Homelessness Minister Brendan O'Connor said on Tuesday that a rise in people using homeless services shows increased investment in the area is working. "We believe all Australians deserve a safe, secure home, and we will continue to work to provide affordable housing for Australia' s most vulnerable people," he said in a statement.