Poverty and discrimination are key issues tipping Indigenous Australians into homelessness, but a lack of funding, affordable housing and crisis accommodation remain bigger problems, a new report has found.
Research by the University of South Australia has revealed the homelessness rate for Aboriginal Australians is 10 times that of other people.
It found that dispossession of land, racism, profound economic disadvantage and cultural oppression continue to shape the lived experience of many Indigenous communities.
And it identified poor literacy, education, criminal histories, domestic violence and lack of sustained tenancies as leading to a "revolving door" of homelessness among Aboriginal people in cities.
"Homelessness among Indigenous people arises from a clustering of vulnerabilities that easily spiral out of control," the authors said in the report, commissioned by the Australian Housing and Urban Institute and released on Wednesday.
"Minor problems, such as a broken fridge or a parking fine, can rapidly escalate to a major problem of rent arrears, court appearances and failed tenancies.
"This breakdown places a further barrier to housing access."
The report identified poverty as a key issue with a proportion of the homeless Indigenous population having "nothing but the clothes they are standing in".
But it said while discrimination, mental illness and poverty made it difficult for Indigenous people to access and sustain housing, it was barriers and limitations within the housing system that needed the greatest attention.
Lead researcher Deirdre Tedmanson said a lack of dedicated services for homeless Aboriginal people in urban areas was a serious problem.
"Although structural discrimination, mental illness and poverty can make it difficult for Aboriginal people to access and sustain housing, it is the lack of funding, affordable housing and limited crisis and transitional accommodation that are the real barriers," Professor Tedmanson said.
"Some drivers of homelessness, such as overcrowding, are common issues for Aboriginal communities and can be linked in part to complex and important kinship obligations.
"Western notions of 'home' and 'homelessness' don't necessarily resonate the same way with Aboriginal Australians in regional and remote areas so it's important that responses are culturally informed, culturally appropriate and culturally safe."
The report also found that Aboriginal women fleeing family violence found it especially hard to manage living away from family networks and needed support to manage cultural obligations while being protected.
It called for new policy and funding strategies that involved direct input from Aboriginal leaders to improve the coordination of housing, homelessness and related services in urban communities.
"Support for the wraparound care that Aboriginal community-controlled organisations can provide is critical as self-determination in finding sustainable solutions is the key," Prof Tedmanson said.
"It's a circular solution. Stable housing improves mental and physical health issues along with substance abuse, and addressing these issues leads to more secure housing.
"In short, we need more culturally safe accessible social housing for First Nations people."
Australian Associated Press
