4922.0 - Information Paper - A Statistical Definition of Homelessness, 2012  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 04/09/2012  First Issue
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FACTSHEET: Transitional Housing

Long-term supported accommodation, often described as Transitional Housing Management (THM) Units, often provides some security of tenure, and the dwellings are adequate (including basic kitchen facilities and a bathroom) and the household has privacy and exclusive use of those basic facilities. The THMs that meet these levels of housing would, under the ABS statistical definition of homelessness, not be classified as homeless. However those THMs that lack one or more of these elements would be classified as homelessness accommodation.

Unfortunately, the lists of supported accommodation that the ABS obtained for the 2006 Census did not separately identify THMs from other crisis accommodation, nor report information about the elements of homelessness. Therefore all THMs are indistinguishably included in the broader estimate of 'Persons in supported accommodation for the homeless' in the Census and will be included in the estimates of homelessness. For 2011, the ABS did receive information from some jurisdictions about THM but did not obtain any of the requested information about the facilities or the tenures offered. The ABS is analysing the list information received for 2011 to consider ways in which it can better separately identify THMs from and other supported accommodation in future Censuses.

For more information on the definition of homelessness or the methodology for estimating homelessness from the Census see Information Paper - A Statistical Definition of Homelessness (cat. no. 4922.0) and Information Paper: Methodology for Estimating Homelessness from the Census of Population and Housing (cat. no. 2049.0.55.001