Curmudgeon,
44,576 is about 42% of 105,000 – that is what is being referred to in the subtitle and again in the second sentence “On any given night in Australia there are about 105,000 people homeless, almost half of whom are under the age of 25.”
The figures referred to are from Counting The Homeless 2006 by David MacKenzie and Chris Chamberlin. They use the data from the census and other sources. I would encourage anyone with an interest in the subject to read the report: http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/10832
A media release form the ABS regarding the report is here: http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs%40.nsf/mediareleasesbyCatalogue/2B580BB732AD4B49CA2574B9001F81F3?OpenDocument
They go into significant detail about the definitions of homelessness used and the method of data collected. I am not aware of any similar report seeking to quantify the homeless population.
I agree it is important how we define homelessness – but I am sure we disagree on the scope of the term. Part of the theme of Youth Homelessness Matters Day is to highlight the less visible homelessness including people in homeless shelters, in derelict buildings and those couch surfing.
As with poverty, and even unemployment, there is never going to be a definition of homelessness that is agreed to by everyone.
Regarding the 44,576 homeless people under 25 years of age, the majority are not rough sleepers as I say in the article:
“When youth homelessness does break into the public consciousness it is often conceptualised in the form of sleeping on park benches and under bridges - but in reality the great majority are invisible; “couch surfing”. This is the more common form of homelessness in our communities - sleeping on the floor or a couch at a friend’s house, moving on when the relationship gets strained. While not sleeping rough, these young people also suffer from issues that flow from a lack of stable accommodation, and are themselves only an argument away from living on the streets.”

Sucked dry as a prune, as poor wine from the vine.

Very good article George Seymour. Please keep up the Good Work.

Homelessness requires a "whole" government and "whole" community business approach. You explained the disconnectiveness well.

What disturbs me most is the increasing state of "indifference" Australian citizens are adopting to a range of issues including those as critical as homelessness. I do not blame the Federal Government alone. I do blame the States and people at all local levels, including Councils for their oversight. Their degrees of selective compassion.

Every house over-priced either to buy or rent belong to someone who alongside others, impacts the market as it accumulates a inflated "whole" value. [How can these people live with themselves?]

Every person who addresses their own needs yet treats others with indifference is not a person I want to be.

I believe it is wrong to use HOUSING as an INVESTMENT option and tool to accumulate more wealth. I believe housing is a human right and it is the key when you consider Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Australia will out price itself shortly. It is a nation lazy when you consider the condition of poor infrastructure and the pressure it places on it's most vulnerable "consumers". It allows multi-nationals to blackmail the roost, as co-dependence leads us all souless over time, to a space of ruin....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maslow's_hierarchy_of_needs

Market captialism is abusing the issue most that it is meant to resolve. Rather than getting improvement it is getting worse and worse and the exploitation we each promote - living with it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exploitation

Who can be suprised when you get reports like this one.

http://ibtimes.com.au/articles/20100408/rich-income-growth-economy-poor.htm

"According to a joint study conducted by Australian National University economist Andrew Leigh and Oxford University's Tony Atkinson, the rich have been getting richer - a lot richer - since 1980."

We need a see change!

http://www.miacat.com/

maybe more funding rather than more counting is needed. if only during the Howard decade public housing hadn't been so severely reduced.

this heartless society will one day see a rise in criminality as a direct result of those years of neglect.

this heartless society will one day see a rise in criminality as a direct result of those years of neglect.
SHRODE,
it's happening now. However, it's not due to the Howard housing policies, it's due to the sick state of mind of those who relentlessly expect others to provide. I haven't been able to afford my own home but I don't expect anyone to give me one. What I am cranky about is that developers can buy up cheap land ad hoc whilst the ordinary citizen only hears about the available properties after they had been sold cheaply & are now available at much inflated cost.

agree with your omments Individual in relation to young firls teenage homelessnes 15-17yrs. Various underlying factors one of which have observed being aversion to discipline. Some homeless kids [small percentage] that I have dealt with have had legitimate reasons for becoming homeless due to an abominable home environment.

As Leigh pointed out in another thread there are some parents who are irresponsible in their behaviour which I believe escalates homelessness. However there are those kids and some not spoiled rotten who simply display an aversion to discipline. Nothing has changed there in most generations.

agree with your comments Individual in relation to young girls teenage homelessness 15-17yrs. Various underlying factors one of which have observed being aversion to discipline. Some homeless kids [small percentage] that I have dealt with have had legitimate reasons for becoming homeless due to an abominable home environment.

As Leigh pointed out in another thread there are some parents who are irresponsible in their behaviour which I believe escalates homelessness. However there are those kids and some not spoiled rotten who simply display an aversion to discipline. Nothing has changed there in most generations.