Background

Homelessness Australia is the national peak body working to prevent and respond to homelessness in Australia. Formed in late 1998 as the Australian Federation of Homelessness Organisations (AFHO) by the:

• Council for Homeless Persons Australia (CHPA)
• The National Youth Coalition for Housing (NYCH)
• Women's Emergency Services Network (WESNET)

Homelessness Australia changed its name in 2007 to better reflect the sector. 

Homelessness Australia was originally established as a consequence of the withdrawal of Commonwealth government funding support for the three founding organisations in their own rights, with a stated government preference for a single peak body on homelessness. These founding organisations considered and debated the government proposal for a single peak body for approximately two years, eventually deciding to pursue the establishment of AFHO as one of the few real options for keeping national advocacy around homelessness alive.

The founding organisations established AFHO with a joint vision to proactively research, develop and promote national policy and action to reduce homelessness and its impact on the diverse range of people it affects. Homelessness Australia aims to achieve this vision by consulting with homelessness agencies nationally, undertaking research and policy development and educating the community about homelessness.

From October 1998 to February 2000 AFHO acted as a coordination mechanism for continuing the work of the secretariats of our founding members CHPA, NYCH and WESNET. From February 2000 AFHO replaced that method of working with the employment of a consolidated secretariat staff team. Homelessness Australia continues to represent our members in this way.

Role

Homelessness Australia seeks to improve community awareness and understanding of the issues facing the 1 in every 200 Australians who are homeless. Homelessness Australia advocates for people who are homeless, aims to represent the interests of more than 1300 homeless assistance services, and contributes to policy development and the evaluation of Australia’s homelessness service system.

Homelessness Australia works collaboratively with homeless people’s associations, homelessness assistance services, state homelessness peak organisations, national peak organisations from other sectors, governments, business and the broader community to achieve these objectives.

Homelessness Australia represents the single men and women, families, young people and women escaping domestic violence who access the diverse support and advocacy services provided by our founding members.

Funding Arrangements

Homelessness Australia acknowledges the ongoing financial support from the Commonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)

Updated: May 08