Homelessness report released in Australia
Updated
A new report has provided deeper insight into the factors behind homelessness in Australia.
The report, by charity organisation, Wesley Mission, examined the first hand experiences of more than 200 homeless people in inner Sydney.
The snapshot comes ahead of the September release of the Australian Government's white paper on homelessness.
The Wesley Mission interviewed homeless people at six shelters in Sydney about how they came to end up living on the streets or in temporary accomodation.
The Mission's head, Reverend Keith Garner, says many spoke about their descent into serious debt and their inability to afford the increasing cost of housing.
"The homeless of tomorrow could be the homeowner of today," Reverend Garner said.
"Could be somebody living in a family in our suburbs or in regional Australia."
The Federal Housing Minister, Tanya Plibersek, has admitted that governments have neglected the homeless.
"Local government, state governments and the Federal Government all need to lift our game," she said.
The report says there are an estimated 100,000 homeless people across Australia.
