Most Australians think of homelessness as a person sleeping rough on the street, but this picture only captures a fraction of those doing it tough.
In reality, rough sleepers make up just 6% of the total homeless population.
The vast majority of people experiencing homelessness are hidden from view, sleeping in cars, couch surfing with friends, or moving between temporary shelters with no guarantee of safety or stability.
It’s a hidden crisis that impacts more than 122,000 Australians, and it’s growing.
Behind the numbers are real people facing real struggles. One in ten Australians now say they are just a single setback away from losing their home.
This Homelessness Week, Orange Sky co-founder and chief executive Lucas Patchett has called on Australians to challenge their assumptions and understand just how close this issue is to everyday life.
“Homelessness in Australia isn’t what most people think it is,” Mr Patchett said.
“It’s not just someone sleeping in a park. We’re seeing young families, retirees, uni students, and working people forced into impossible situations by things like rent hikes, medical bills or car breakdowns.”
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Orange Sky co-founder and chief executive Lucas Patchett said homelessness can impact anyone. Picture: Supplied
Orange Sky is a charity that provides free laundry, warm showers and heartfelt conversations to those in need, and Mr Patchett said their services were in high demand.
The charity runs more than 350 shifts each week across 50 communities nationwide, powered by more than 3,500 volunteers and a growing network of bright orange vans.
“Each week, around 13% of the people turning up to our shifts are coming for the very first time,” he said.
“It shows just how fast the problem is growing and how few people are immune to it.”
The majority of Aussies experiencing homelessness sleep in cars, couch surf with friends, or move between temporary shelters. Picture: Getty
According to new Orange Sky research, only one in ten Australians feel confident they can correctly define homelessness.
About half say they’re ‘somewhat confident’, while many continue to associate homelessness solely with rough sleeping.
Mr Patchett said that disconnect is fuelling damaging stereotypes and preventing real solutions.
“When people don’t see their experience reflected in the public narrative, they’re less likely to ask for help,” he said.
“When the broader community doesn’t understand who is really affected, it makes empathy and policy change much harder to achieve.”
Orange Sky provides free laundry, warm showers and heartfelt conversations to those in need. Picture: Supplied
Founded in Brisbane in 2014, Orange Sky has been on a mission to change the story. It has grown into a national force, delivering more than 2,000 loads of clean laundry and offering thousands of conversations each week to people experiencing hardship.
“At Orange Sky, we’re about more than clean clothes,” Mr Patchett said.
“We’re about providing a non-judgemental space where people can feel seen, heard and valued. It starts with a conversation.”
It comes as the number of people experiencing homelessness has grown by more than 30% over the past 20 years.
“This isn’t just a housing problem, it’s a human one, and it can happen to anyone,” Mr Patchett said.
“If we understand better, we can do better, and understanding starts with listening.”
Homelessness Week runs from August 4-8.
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