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Housing costs driving surge in homelessness support needs across Canberra
New data reveals housing affordability stress has become the primary reason people seek homelessness support in the ACT, with demand more than doubling since 2017. ACT Shelter's analysis shows specialist homelessness services are increasingly supporting individuals for extended periods as affordable housing remains scarce. The median duration of support for ACT clients reached 117 days in 2024-25, compared to 58 days nationally. Older people seeking assistance have also surged, with the proportion aged 65+ tripling between 2018 and 2026. While overall client numbers fell by 25% since 2011-12, monthly caseloads rose due to longer support periods. ACT Shelter CEO Corinne Dobson warned that new housing developments in the 2026-27 budget would not reverse long-term declines in public housing stock. The report highlights how high housing costs are straining even working Canberrans, with 19.1% of service users also employed - the highest proportion nationally. Dobson called for mandatory coronial reporting of homeless deaths to better track mortality patterns and prevent future tragedies.