This is the first Australian study to bring together the international evidence about the cost of homelessness across key government service areas as well as to societies and individuals - and the benefits achieved by intervening to prevent homelessness. On any one night the number of homeless in Australia is estimated at 60,000 to 105,000. The report, for the Commonwealth's National Homelessness Strategy, concludes that societies can achieve substantial savings by providing shelter and support to homeless people and that the savings can outweigh the costs of these interventions.