Defining Homelessness in Australia

Homelessness is a large umbrella term that captures different people in very different living arrangements. To experience homelessness is not necessarily just to be 'roofless' – it is instead "the lack of one or more elements that represent 'home'", which may include "a sense of security, stability, privacy, safety, and the ability to control living space".

This means that there does not exist a single definition of homelessness, but according to the understanding above, a general definition can be drawn from the Australian Bureau of Statistics:

'when a person does not have suitable accommodation alternatives they are considered homeless if their current living arrangement:

is in a dwelling that is inadequate; or
has no tenure, or if their initial tenure is short and not extendable; or
does not allow them to have control of, and access to space for social relations.'

What Does Homelessness Look Like?

While stories of people sleeping rough may be familiar, there are many others who are experiencing homelessness in ways that may look different. Homelessness is far broader than we think, and can be split into three main categories:

1️⃣ Primary Homelessness

When people don't have conventional accommodation. For example, sleeping rough or in improvised dwellings like sleeping in their car.

2️⃣ Secondary Homelessness

When people are forced to move from one temporary shelter to another, such as between emergency accommodation and refuges. This includes 'couch surfing' or when someone 'crashes' at a friend's or relative's home.

3️⃣ Tertiary Homelessness

When people live in accommodation that falls below minimum standards, this can be a boarding house, caravan park, or severely overcrowded household.

Understanding these categories is crucial because it reveals that the majority of homelessness in Australia is hidden from view. Most people experiencing homelessness are not sleeping on the streets—they're moving between temporary arrangements, staying in inadequate housing, or relying on the generosity of friends and family.

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Last Updated: January 2026