New analysis from Homelessness Australia highlights alarming trends in homelessness in Queensland, coinciding with both World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day. The report reveals that family and domestic violence, along with cost-of-living pressures, are the primary factors driving homelessness across Australia. Between June 2023 and June 2025, the number of individuals seeking assistance due to family and domestic violence increased by 13%, underscoring a growing crisis that demands urgent attention.
According to the latest data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the top reasons for individuals seeking homelessness support in June 2025 included family and domestic violence, with 35,736 cases reported. Other significant factors were eviction (34,094 cases), financial difficulties (33,038), and housing affordability stress (32,979). Of particular concern is the rise in demand for help related to housing affordability, which saw an increase of 8.1% over the same two-year period.
In Queensland alone, 5,348 individuals sought homelessness support due to family and domestic violence in June 2025, a rise from 4,668 the previous year. Notably, 3,936 of these clients were women. The data also indicates that 8,059 people requested assistance due to the housing crisis, an increase from 6,993 in June 2024, while 8,380 cited financial difficulties, up from 7,677, and 9,296 attributed their need for help to housing affordability stress, compared to 7,994 the year before.
Kate Colvin, CEO of Homelessness Australia, emphasized the urgent need for government intervention. “Australians have been calling attention to domestic and family violence and the housing crisis for years. We have sounded the alarm again and again over the risks to safety when survivors have nowhere to go to escape violence. This data clearly shows that governments have not done enough to stop rising homelessness and protect victim survivors of violence,” she stated.
Colvin urged the federal government to leverage the upcoming Mid-Year Financial Economic Outlook to implement meaningful measures aimed at addressing the homelessness crisis. She advocated for early intervention programs, increased income support, and a greater supply of social housing to meet the escalating demand for homelessness assistance.
As the nation observes World Mental Health Day, Colvin pointed out the profound impact that homelessness has on mental health. “The stress and risks of homelessness take a devastating toll on people’s mental health. A secure home and the support people need to keep it are the foundation for positive wellbeing for all of us. We have so much to gain if we take action now,” she concluded.
The findings underscore a critical need for coordinated responses at all levels of government to effectively tackle the intertwined issues of domestic violence and homelessness. With rising numbers indicating a worsening situation, stakeholders are calling for immediate and sustained action to protect vulnerable populations and ensure that support systems are in place to assist those in need.
