Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders — connection to Country and homelessness  

While the official Census numbers are staggering, they may not fully reflect how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples see their own living situation when it comes to homelessness. 

The information paper, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Perspectives on Homelessness, notes the following:  
“For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, disconnection from Country is considered a form of homelessness.” 

This means many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples may describe themselves as ‘homeless’ even if they’re living in a safe and stable house, because they’re living off Country and are disconnected from their family or friends.

Additionally, some Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may be classified as living in “overcrowded” housing under standard definitions, even though living with extended family or on Country can reflect cultural obligations, kinship structures, and personal choice.

The Salvation Army recognises that responding to homelessness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples requires a culturally safe and respectful approach. Through a wraparound approach, we aim to honour and respect people’s beliefs, values, and goals — working alongside them to achieve their preferred outcomes.

Facts about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples seeking homelessness support 

Statistics from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) show the three most common main reasons why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples seek assistance from Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS).

• 25% — Family and domestic violence
• 17% — Housing crisis
• 14% — Inadequate and inappropriate dwelling conditions

SHS take a multi-layered approach to meeting the needs of people seeking support, ensuring needs and goals are identified and addressed as best as possible. 

AIHW figures show Indigenous peoples seeking support needed:

• Short-term or emergency accommodation (50%)
• Long-term housing (38%)
• Material aid/brokerage (36%)

Why are there more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are homeless?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are over-represented among many of our Salvation Army support services. For instance, among people accessing emergency relief assistance from The Salvation Army, Australia-wide, across a four-month period in 2025: 22% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (The Red Shield Report 2026: Falling short). This leads to an increased risk of homelessness, which we see reflected in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples accessing Specialist Homelessness Services.

• More than one quarter (29%) of Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) clients in 2024–25 identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.
• Almost one third (32%) of all Indigenous clients were aged under 18
  (source: AIHW, data table, INDIGENOUS.1)

According to a report by the AIHW, the overrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia’s homeless population reflects the impact of historical and structural disadvantage. The flow on effect means that Indigenous peoples now experience:

• Higher rates of unemployment, which means reduced financial resources to access secure and good-quality housing
• Barriers to housing access
• Long waiting lists for public housing — particularly in remote areas
• Housing that does not meet the needs of Indigenous Australians — whether that’s inadequate bedrooms to cater to large families or poor housing facilities
• Overcrowding

Indigenous peoples also have strong family connections and cultural obligations to share resources. This extends to providing accommodation to family members — even when the home is too small to comfortably or safely do so.

Overcrowding can have negative effects on physical and mental health, such as food insecurity, a lack of privacy, reduced hygiene, increased spread of infectious diseases, and a lack of quiet space for study, work and sleep. This can lead to poor mental health and education outcomes, which continues the cycle of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander homelessness.

The National Agreement on Closing the Gap has 19 targets to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Number nine’s outcome is: “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people secure appropriate, affordable housing that is aligned with their priorities and need.”

It is officially classified as showing "improvement but not on track".

Addressing homelessness among Australia’s First Nations peoples

The Salvation Army is committed to reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Closing the Gap.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan guides our priorities to address social injustices experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in relation to:

• Poverty and financial hardship
• Homelessness and housing
• Family and domestic violence
• Substance use disorders

Salvation Army teams work alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create culturally safe services and spaces that support strong life outcomes and address inequities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices and lived experience guide this work, alongside evidence-informed practice and research.