As part of the National Homelessness Research Agenda 2009-2013, FaHCSIA is funding Journeys Home:Longitudinal Study of Factors Affecting Housing Stability which aims to improve the understanding of, and policy response to, the diverse social, economic and personal factors related to homelessness and the risk of becoming homeless. Journeys Home will be the first large-scale longitudinal study assessing income support recipients who are homeless, at risk of, or vulnerable to homelessness.
The research combines de-identified longitudinal information held by Centrelink with a sample survey of approximately 1,600 income support recipients across Australia who have been flagged as homeless or at risk of homelessness. A third group, identified as vulnerable to homelessness by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research (Melbourne Institute), is also included.
The survey will consist of up to four waves, each six months apart, from September 2011 to the first half of 2013. Reports and analysis will be available after each wave, with a final report due in December 2013, although these dates are subject to change.
Centrelink income support recipients were randomly selected and invited to take part on the understanding that participation is entirely voluntary. Respondents are reminded during the interview that they can choose not to answer any particular question if they wish. The survey has been designed to ensure participants’ privacy.
The project received full ethics approval from the University of Melbourne’s Behavioural and Social Sciences Human Ethics Committee and complies with the National Statement on Ethical Conduct in Human Research.
The evidence will assist the Government to target investments in homelessness support programs and will inform other policy development as well as research projects outlined in the National Homelessness Research Strategy 2009-2013. A confidentialised version of the data will be available for the use of other government bodies, non-government organisations and academics.
Progress to date
A pilot study, based on the survey of 150 participants in six sites in NSW and Victoria, was undertaken in 29 April 2011 to test the participant contact process, the validity of the survey questions and operations in the field.
Wave 1 fieldwork commenced on 1 September 2011, except in the Northern Territory, which started on 19 September 2011. To enhance Indigenous engagement and the capacity of the fieldworkers to act in a culturally appropriate way, the Northern Land Council and the Larrakia Nation provided support and advice to interviewers.
Fieldwork was completed in mid-November 2011 and a report from the Melbourne Institute, which is managing the project, is due in July 2012. Further information and preliminary findings, based on partial data, are below.
Wave 2 fieldwork commenced on 1 March 2012 and is expected to end on 31 May 2012.
What is the purpose of the study?
The study collects important information on homelessness, covering areas such as:
- personal circumstances – participants’ physical and mental health; participation in the workplace, employment, education and training and any significant life events;
- family circumstances – participants’ family status and living arrangements; support networks and experiences of domestic and family violence;
- housing circumstances – participants’ housing situation; the periods, nature of, and reasons for, homelessness; and trajectories and tipping points of moving into and out of homelessness; and
- use of support services – types of assistance sought and used, including health care and support services.
The longitudinal data will enable a wider range of research in homelessness and inform how best to target government investment in homelessness support programs.
What are some of the research questions guiding the study?
- What characteristics are associated with people identified as homeless or at risk of homelessness?
- What is the length of time that people in the study experience homelessness, including multiple episodes of homelessness?
- What factors are associated with instability/stability in housing tenancy or occupancy, including over time?
- What characteristics distinguish people who become homeless from those who do not?
- What are some key intervention points to prevent homelessness and chronic homelessness?
- What are the factors that are important in the road out of homelessness?
Who is undertaking the study?
The Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research has been contracted to design the content of the study and the preparation of research and statistical reports. The surveys are being conducted by Roy Morgan Research. The Melbourne Institute manages the sub-contract with Roy Morgan Research for provision of this fieldwork.
Pilot Study
A pilot study from 29 April 2011 until 31 May 2011 surveyed 151 participants across six sites in New South Wales and Victoria. It tested the participant contact process, the validity of the survey questions and operations in the field and has been used to inform Wave 1 which commenced in September 2011. Draft findings include:
- Only a third of the total respondents are currently homeless. This is based on the cultural definition of homelessness used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Counting the Homeless.
- The largest group of those identified as homeless is in the secondary homeless category, with the tertiary homeless the next largest group and the primary homeless the smallest group.
- Although it is difficult to make comparisons between the two because of the difference in size, it appears that in the Journeys Home sample, the rate of secondary homelessness is higher and the rate of tertiary homelessness lower than found in Counting the Homeless.
- Over 90% of the total Journeys Home sample appears to have been homeless previously, with over 60% having a history of sleeping rough.
Wave 1
There were 1676 completed interviews in Wave 1, with a higher response rate amongst women, the young and older cohorts. The response rate by each sub-sample (homelessness/at risk of/vulnerable to homelessness) was very similar. Ninety-three per cent of participants agreed to have their survey data linked to their Centrelink records.
Findings suggest that the Journeys Home profile is different to that of the general population. Participants are more likely to be younger, single, have no dependent children and be Australian born. The study also found that:
- around 90% of participants have had previous period/s of homelessness;
- there is a high rate of housing mobility;
- the vast majority of respondents are not in the labour force and some have low levels of education; and
- drug, alcohol and cigarette use are high.
Access to data
At this stage it is expected that confidentialised data will be available for academics, non-government organisations and other government bodies around the beginning of 2014. The Journeys Home Data Access Protocol outlines the requirements for access. It is possible that Journeys Home will be included in the licensing agreement that covers The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (HILDA). Further information on the latter is at http://melbourneinstitute.com/hilda/data/default.html
Finding out more
Further information can be obtained from the FaHCSIA Journeys Home project team jh@fahcsia.gov.au.
The project team also maintains a stakeholder list for persons or organisations interested in semi-regular updates on the project. To be added to this list, please send an email to jh@fahcsia.gov.au.
Updates on this webpage will be made from time to time as the study progresses.