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How The Salvation Army helps people experiencing homelessness
Our person-centred approach supports people to find safety, security, hope and housing
Kathy1, like 34,000 other people across Australia each year, received support from The Salvation Army’s Homelessness Services to get her life back on track. She came to the Salvos feeling stressed, vulnerable, isolated, and wanting to keep her children safe.
The Salvation Army— and several other external services — worked with Kathy to provide her with long-term accommodation and help her build a support network.
Our homelessness programs offer case management and caring support to help people like Kathy maintain or find secure and safe accommodation. Due to the lack of affordable housing across the country, while it can take time for program staff to support people from homelessness to a home, staff are committed to working with people for the long haul.
We have more than 100 programs in every state and territory in Australia, in metropolitan cities, as well as regional and rural locations. We support people experiencing hardship, from those at risk of homelessness, to people experiencing homelessness or rebuilding their lives after they’ve moved into housing. Our staff are guided by principles that help them to consistently deliver high-quality, compassionate service at every stage.
What causes homelessness?
Homelessness is a structural, social problem that interacts with individual experiences of disadvantage. Its drivers are complex; however, 27% of all clients seek support from a homelessness service due to family violence. Housing crisis is a close second — with 18% of people expressing this as their main reason for seeking support.2
Read more about the causes of homelessness.
How do people access homelessness services with The Salvation Army?
The most common way to access initial assistance is through state-based intake services. There are different phone numbers and ways to access for each state and territory. However, a national website, called Ask Izzy, has been developed where people can search for assistance based on their location. It will advise relevant numbers and also other local services which may be able to assist.
If you contact the Salvos directly, we will work alongside you to support you to access services, meet your needs, goals and priorities and help you find a safe, secure home.
Where someone at risk of homelessness contacts us due to financial hardship, we may link them with The Salvation Army’s financial counselling service, called Moneycare. Anyone can start an online chat or book a free appointment for help.
How does The Salvation Army help people who are experiencing homelessness?
Abby3 has two daughters and, as a victim survivor of family and domestic violence, was connected with The Salvation Army in Queensland through DV Connect — a 24-hour domestic violence helpline. She was initially supported to access temporary accommodation at The Salvation Army’s Sunshine Coast Supported Accommodation Services.
After having some space to grieve our losses, I was able to focus on me and the girls. The service helped me with this change through assistance to access housing and having somewhere to sleep, which was a major stress reliever, and referring to other support services to get mentally and physically healthier.
I also believed that I contributed to this change by showing resilience and not giving up on my love for my children.
Abby’s story highlights how principles and practices, supported by our ‘Model of Care’, ensure The Salvation Army organisational value of ‘caring for people’ is expressed through person-centred and trauma-informed support. This means we recognise each person’s circumstances, strengths, and goals.
Homelessness staff on the Sunshine Coast are continuing to support Abby and her family to access long-term accommodation. Once in secure housing, they will keep working with Abby to ensure her accommodation is sustainable, and her family receives support for as long as they need it.
The impact of safe, long-term housing
Kathy is also based in Queensland with her children and, like Abby, became homeless due to experiencing family and domestic violence. After initially staying with her dad and his partner, Kathy was able to access long-term accommodation in her local area.
Because of the trauma the boys have experienced, I did not want to move them again. Being able to remain in the same area has meant they can stay at their school and remain close to my dad and his partner for help with my boys and safety, everything.
This stability has been very important for their emotional wellbeing and sense of safety. My two older boys have their own bedroom and we have a yard where they can play. The school has also been incredibly supportive and accommodating throughout this process. Everyone involved has been amazing.
We now have a strong support network around us and we feel very lucky. These supports helped us rebuild from having very little after leaving our home.
Due to my previous relationship, I always felt isolated with shame and scared and no help. I was always made to feel alone and I didn’t go looking or asking and now I feel that there’s support there and I’m not alone.
I put it down to all the support I have got and help from the community and drive I had to make sure my children would never be hurt again and have a roof over their head. The process has been so scary for me of the unknown but thank God for the help I have gotten.
I feel so blessed every day. Having a stable home has been the biggest change for us and has given us safety and security again.
How can I help someone who is experiencing homelessness?
If someone you know is in an insecure or unsafe housing situation, one of the easiest ways to access support is through the national website: Ask Izzy.
From there, you, your family member or friend, can search for a wide variety of support services in the local area. If the person you know is at risk of homelessness due to housing stress, financial hardship or violence, Ask Izzy can also identify support services for those concerns.
We strongly believe that early action can make the most difference for someone at risk of homelessness. Due to the nationwide shortages of affordable housing, it is often easier to support someone to maintain their housing than trying to find long-term, secure housing once a person has entered homelessness. We encourage people to start looking for support somewhere, as soon as they can.
We believe in good for you and your future. And we believe everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable home.
By Dylan Jansz, National Homelessness Specialist for The Salvation Army Australia
1. Not her real name
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, ‘Specialist homelessness services annual report 2024–25, https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/homelessness-services/specialist-homelessness-services-annual-report/contents/clients-services-and-outcomes#clients', date accessed: 02.07.2026.
3. Not her real name
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