This synthesis report provides evidence about current access arrangements to homelessness services, the complex and multiple access barriers faced by people experiencing homelessness, and an overview of the different approaches, models and mechanisms used in Australia and internationally to improve access.
Despite the limitations of the existing evidence base, findings about access to services and service systems for homeless people are consistent on the following points:
Homeless people face significant barriers in accessing both mainstream services and specialist homelessness services, with fragmentation and complexity a key criticism of both service systems.
Poor visibility of existing homelessness services is a common complaint from homeless people, with a lack of knowledge of availability of services being one of the major barriers to service usage.
Those who are newly homeless are much less likely to know about available resources and services than people who have experienced homelessness either periodically or chronically.
The initial experience of homeless services is critical in determining service usage, with negative experiences likely to make them withdraw from active help-seeking.
While there are common barriers across the homeless population, there are also specific barriers and access issues faced by different target groups.
Given the complexity and diversity of need across the homeless population, access points must incorporate high quality assessment and referral processes to enable an adequate response to be provided.
Incorporating consumer perspectives into service model design and practice could assist in developing more accessible and effective services.