AUSTRALIA’S homelessness crisis has reached unprecedented levels, with homeless rates rising as The Salvation Army warns the nation is facing a “national emergency” that demands urgent action.
As Homelessness Week shines a spotlight on the issue, the charity said soaring rents, a chronic shortage of affordable housing and relentless cost-of-living pressures are driving record numbers of Australians into housing insecurity, including many who never imagined they would need homelessness support.
New findings from The Salvation Army’s 2026 Red Shield Report, based on responses from people accessing emergency relief services, reveal the depth of the crisis.
Three in four respondents (75 per cent) reported experiencing housing stress, rising to 86 per cent among private renters. Six in 10 said they had been unable to pay their rent or mortgage on time during the past year, while more than one in three (37 per cent) feared losing their home altogether.
Helen’s Haven and Goodna Street Life founder Helen Youngberry, who works on the frontline supporting people experiencing homelessness across the Ipswich region, said the growing crisis highlighted the need for immediate solutions alongside long-term housing reform.
“We believe every person deserves a safe place to sleep while they navigate crisis,” Ms Youngberry said.
“We would support exploring innovative solutions that are safe, trauma-informed and connected with support services, because no one should be left sleeping on the streets while waiting for a system to catch up.”
Sixteen per cent of respondents said they had spent time couch surfing or living in their car during the previous 12 months.
