Why homelessness matters to The Salvation Army

Strong historical foundation of care

Founded in 1865 in London’s East End by William and Catherine Booth, The Salvation Army emerged within a context of widespread poverty and homelessness. From our earliest days as a church and mission movement, we provided food, shelter and spiritual care to those living on society’s margins. This legacy continues to shape our mission in Australia today.

The Salvation Army is now one of Australia’s largest providers of homelessness services. As we support community members experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, we provide people with hope, dignity and respect. Standing up for people experiencing hardship and injustice is simply at the heart of who we are as The Salvation Army.

Responding to Australia’s complex housing needs

Across Australia, The Salvation Army now provides more than 1000 programs and activities in every state and territory. In 2024-25, that meant more than 228,500 people were assisted by our social programs. These programs include emergency relief for times of financial hardship, housing and homelessness support services, financial counselling, family support, youth services, and alcohol and other drug recovery programs. Operating within churches and community centres, often alongside other services, we work closely with individuals and families from all backgrounds who are experiencing ^1.2

Community members who seek our assistance often present with a range of complex challenges including family and domestic violence, financial hardship, cost of living pressures, alcohol and other drug use, mental ill-health, and un- or under-employment. Housing insecurity — including housing stress, affordability, poor quality accommodation or rough sleeping — is almost always a feature of their circumstances. It intersects with almost every form of disadvantage people experience and can be both a cause and a consequence.

For people like Murray, who was supported through a homeless service in Perth to find housing stability, initial assistance for him included a safe place to come, support with medical issues and somewhere to “feel like a human being”.

Read more about Murray’s story and how the Salvos supported him.

For The Salvation Army, homelessness is not simply a case of one program among many; rather, homelessness support shapes nearly all aspects of our service delivery. Without a safe, stable and secure home, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, for individuals to achieve stability and pursue unrealised aspirations in any other part of their lives.

Housing provides dignity and hope

The Salvation Army is passionate about caring for the whole person, and recognises that safe, stable and secure housing is foundational to overall wellbeing. Without it, people find it much more difficult to access other forms of support, such as healthcare, education, employment services, legal support or case management.

Stable housing is also essential for people to maintain work, build relationships, find purpose and develop roots in a community. This is why our homelessness help in Australia prioritises housing, because it provides the stability necessary for individuals to engage meaningfully with these services and to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

Housing insecurity is on the rise

In 2026, the scale of housing insecurity and homelessness in Australia has reached unprecedented levels. What was once considered a marginal issue is now pervasive and a deeply entrenched crisis. Many people are unable to afford rent or are forced to allocate the majority of their income toward accommodation costs. Some are living in overcrowded or unstable conditions or are at risk of losing their homes altogether. Others are already experiencing homelessness, including those who are rough sleeping (10 per cent), couch surfing (40 per cent), or living in temporary accommodation (20 per cent) or inadequate accommodation (30 per cent).³

This reality is reflected in findings from The Salvation Army’s Red Shield Report 2026: Falling Short, which surveyed more than 4400 people who had recently received emergency relief. The report found that 87 per cent of respondents were living below the poverty line, highlighting the depth of financial hardship experienced. In addition:

• 86 per cent of private renters were experiencing housing stress, spending more than 30 per cent of their income on housing
• 60 per cent reported being unable to pay their rent or mortgage on time
• 25 per cent had experienced housing instability, having moved multiple times within a year; and alarmingly
• 16 per cent had resorted to couch surfing or living in their car due to a lack of money4

The data demonstrates that housing instability is not just a peripheral concern but a dominant and defining pressure in people’s lives. It shapes their experiences, limits their opportunities, and perpetuates cycles of disadvantage.

Read more about how financial hardship is affecting people’s living situations.

Addressing housing insecurity is essential to achieving meaningful outcomes across all areas of support and requires an appreciation of the structural drivers of disadvantage, poverty and discrimination in contemporary Australia. This includes rising housing costs, limited access to social and affordable housing, insecure employment, and systemic inequality. These barriers are deeply embedded in our social and economic systems and play a significant role in shaping people’s life opportunities and outcomes.

What can I do to help people experiencing homelessness?

You can play a critical role in addressing the structural barriers that contribute to homelessness and disadvantage.

Change begins with increased awareness and a willingness to challenge stigma and discrimination. By deliberately rejecting stereotypes and promoting inclusion, individuals can help reshape attitudes and the public narrative that so often marginalises people experiencing homelessness and disadvantage. Practical actions are equally important. Volunteering with local organisations that engage in frontline support, providing financial support, and contributing to community initiatives can have a direct and meaningful impact.

Alongside this, we can call for fairer policies, such as increased access to affordable housing and stronger social safety nets, to address the systemic issues that drive homelessness. Collective action at a community level can support both immediate relief and promote long-term change.

Act now by reading stories of people’s lived experience of homelessness.

Find volunteer opportunities with the Salvos.

Share your thoughts with your Member of Parliament

Ending homelessness for good

The Salvation Army’s vision statement summarises why housing security matters to us: “Wherever there is hardship or injustice, Salvos will live, love and fight, alongside others, to transform Australia one life at a time with the love of Jesus.” Resolving housing insecurity is key to achieving sustainable, long-term transformation, both for individuals and across society. When people have access to safe and stable housing, they are far better placed to engage with support services, pursue aspirations, and have lasting hope.

Providing everyone with a safe, stable home is fundamental to building a more just and equitable society. Ending homelessness for good remains our commitment and is central to The Salvation Army’s mission and service delivery.

AUTHOR: Jeffrey Milne, Senior Policy and Advocacy Advisor, The Salvation Army