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LESSON OBJECTIVE: To explore the prevalence and diversity of homeless
SUCCESS CRITERIA: To be able to identify the prevalence of the group within Australia, determination of individuals within the group, and how individuals vary within the group.
While we all have our own perceptions of what homelessness is, complexities surrounding the topic mean that there is no internationally agreed definition. There is, however, a general consensus that the term 'homeless' refers to something more than just 'house-less-ness'. Watch Edrolo for an understanding of definitions and identify which definition you will use in the HSC.
Discuss: -
- What is your understanding of homelessness in Australia? is it just a suburban thing?
- Why are people homeless? How do they become homeless?
- What statistics of people are homeless? Male v Female, young v old?
- How does society view people who are homeless? Are homeless people dangerous?
Watch any of the clips below for further understanding of homelessness. In particular, look at the Port Macquarie soup kitchen clip.
Visit this incredible site "Invisible people" and watch any of the video interviews for a deeper understanding of homelessness
Prevalence:
122,494 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness on Census night in 2021.
Males made up 55.9% of people experiencing homelessness; females made up 44.1%.
23.0% of all people experiencing homelessness were aged from 12 to 24 years.
Of the 122,494 people experiencing homelessness in Australia in 2021:
Two in five (39.1%) were living in 'severely' crowded dwellings
One in five (19.8%) were in supported accommodation for the homeless
One in six (18.1%) living in boarding houses.
Between 2016 and 2021, there was a:
26.5% increase in people living in boarding houses
14.4% increase in people in supported accommodation for the homeless
6.9% decrease in people living in improvised dwellings, tents, or sleeping out
Can you identify some trends that exist in the homeless data?
What reasons might these trends exist?
Individual Diversity:
Homeless people come from all walks of life.They vary in many ways, including age, cultural background, socioeconomic level and health status. People may experience homelessness as an individual or family. The only thing shared by all homeless people is their vulnerability.
Primary homelessness: People without conventional accommodation, such as people living on the street, in parks, under bridges, in derelict buildings, improvised dwellings
Secondary homelessness: People moving between various forms of temporary shelter including staying with friends, emergency accommodation, youth refuges, hostels and boarding houses.
Tertiary homelessness: People living in single rooms in private boarding houses, without their own bathroom, kitchen or security of tenure.
Discuss and answer:
How would you describe homeless people? Write your own definition.
What determines whether an individual is part of this group? What do they have in common?
How might individuals vary within the group?
Make a table in your books by identifying positive and negative terminology to describe homeless people.
Student Activity:
Student Activity:
Watch 'You Can't Ask That' series 2: Homeless. The program is on iview ABC.
What is the impact of positive and negative community perceptions on homeless people?
Available on Clickview online
Outline the prevalence of homeless people in the Australian community (3)
Describe the individual diversity within the group (4)
What determines whether an individual is part of the group? (4)
Examine how individuals may vary within the group (5)
The community uses positive and negative terminology to describe the group. Discuss the impact this terminology might have the individual (7)
Past HSC Questions
How could the community's use of positive terminology have an impact on the wellbeing of people with disabilities (change to suit) Use examples to support your answer. (4) 2021
Explain the effect that individual diversity has on a person's educational needs with reference to two of the following groups: (6) 2017
Rural and remote families
LGBTQIA+
Youth
Explain how positive and negative terminology used by the community to describe specific groups could affect individuals within the group (8) 2016
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