Crisis accommodation in Australia: now and for the future

Crisis accommodation is an established part of the specialist homelessness services (SHS) system in Australia. Demand for such accommodation is high and despite calls for a reorientation of the homelessness services system towards prevention and ending homelessness there remains a need to provide short-term emergency or crisis accommodation for people in acute housing need. 

This research explores and critically examines the diversity of crisis accommodation service models and practices occurring nationally and internationally. It will identify the key elements of effective and appropriate crisis accommodation models and articulate how they fit within the evolving landscape of homelessness services and responses.

The project is guided by the overarching policy question: What are the key elements of effective and appropriate crisis accommodation models now and for the future? It will consider three research questions: 

1. What are the different crisis accommodation practice frameworks and service models operating nationally and internationally? 
2. When does/doesn’t crisis accommodation work well and why? 
3. How do client needs and outcomes vary across key cohorts? 

The research will review the national and international grey and academic literature (e.g. UK, New Zealand, US, Canada, Finland); interview key stakeholders in each state and territory; interview people with lived experience of crisis accommodation; undertake focus groups with SHS staff; and analyse administrative data.

The project will provide policy makers with an evidence-base on the key elements of effective and appropriate crisis accommodation models now and into the future. 

Lead Researcher: Dr Deb Batterham, Swinburne University

Project Number: 51268