The Australian Census provides a vital opportunity to understand how widespread homelessness is across the country and where support is needed most.
For people experiencing homelessness, being counted in the Census is particularly important. Accurate Census data helps ensure people experiencing homelessness are visible to governments, homelessness services and the wider community.
Anchor Community Care has been working extensively across our service area to support people experiencing homelessness to participate in the Census and ensure they have the opportunity to be counted.
Homelessness data is precious evidence
In the lead-up to Census night, Anchor CEO Heidi Tucker spoke with Star Mail, ABC Radio Melbourne and SBS News about the importance of accurately counting people experiencing homelessness.
Heidi described Census data on homelessness in Australia as “precious evidence” because it provides an important picture of the scale and nature of homelessness across communities.
For homelessness organisations, this evidence is essential.
Accurate data helps organisations understand where the greatest need exists and provides an important foundation for advocating for the services, housing and funding required to respond to homelessness.
SBS News: 2026 Census: Why some Australians could go uncounted
Star Mail: Helping people experiencing homelessness be counted on Census night
Why is it important to count people experiencing homelessness?
People experiencing homelessness can be among the most difficult members of the community to accurately count. Homelessness does not always mean sleeping rough. People may be staying in temporary accommodation, couch surfing, living in overcrowded housing or experiencing other forms of housing insecurity.
Ensuring people experiencing homelessness have the opportunity to participate in the Census helps build a more accurate picture of homelessness in Australia.
This information can then help governments and homelessness services identify where support is most needed and plan services and resources accordingly.
Census data can help drive change
For homelessness organisations of all sizes, reliable data is an important advocacy resource.
Understanding the number of people experiencing homelessness, where they are located and the circumstances surrounding homelessness helps organisations advocate for better support, appropriate services and increased investment in addressing homelessness.
At Anchor Community Care, we know that behind every statistic is a person, a family or a young person who needs support.
The Census provides an opportunity to make sure those experiences are counted and that the scale of homelessness in our communities is visible.
Accurate homelessness data helps ensure that people experiencing homelessness are seen, counted and considered when governments make decisions about housing, homelessness services and funding.
Learn more about homelessness support
Anchor Community Care provides homelessness services and support for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity across Melbourne’s outer east.
Find out more about Anchor’s homelessness services and how to get support
