Topic: Homelessness - methodology for reporting

Senator Ludlam asked:
Can the Department confirm that it is reviewing the methodology used by researchers who produce the Counting the Homeless reports? What is the nature of concerns with the methodology used?

Answer:
The ABS, in conjunction with FaHCSIA and Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), is leading a review of the methodology used by Associate Professors Chris Chamberlain (Swinburne University) and David MacKenzie (RMIT University) to produce the publication Counting the Homeless 2006. The review will identify improvements in how homeless counts may be constructed in future.

At present Counting the Homeless 2006 is the best published national count of homeless people. The researchers, Chamberlain and MacKenzie, use a range of sources and methods and have produced their count two to three years after each of the last three Censuses. While Chamberlain and MacKenzie modified their methodology in 2001 and in 2006, there has not been a review of the methodology since it was first used. There is wide-spread agreement that the numbers reported in Counting the Homeless are indicative and may well overestimate or underestimate the count of homeless people in Australia in general, and that of homeless youth in particular. The review is designed to explore issues of definitions, assumptions, data quality and calculation methodology.

The review is engaging with a wide range of interested stakeholders including the researchers and the sector in order to receive the best possible advice. The nature of concerns with the methodology is set out in a paper released by the ABS, Issues in estimating the number of homeless in Australia: A paper to inform a review of Counting the Homeless methodology, which is available on the National Homelessness Information Clearinghouse at
http://www.homelessnessinfo.net.au/dmdocuments/counting_the_homeless_iss...
The Australian Bureau of Statistics would be pleased to receive responses to the issues raised in the paper.

The outcome of this review is expected to be a more accurate count of Australia's homeless people and households from the 2011 Census, as a result of improved collection procedures and better methodology for using Census and, if necessary, supplementary data to calculate the counts.

Topic: White Paper - update on taskforce

Senator Ludlam asked:
Can the Department provide an update on the outcomes of the taskforce that has been formed within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to monitor the roll-out of the homelessness White Paper?

Answer:
There is no taskforce within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet monitoring the roll-out of the homelessness White Paper. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, together with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, recently examined implementation of the Government's White Paper on Homelessness: The Road Home as part of their normal business. It found that implementation was on track.