Homelessness and labour market engagement in Australia

Adam Steen; David Mackenzie; Darcy McCormack

Homelessness and labour market engagement in Australia

Adam Steen
, David Mackenzie
, Darcy McCormack

Swinburne University of Technology
Australian Catholic University

Research output: Book chapter/Published conference paper › Conference paper › peer-review

7 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

While there is a copious literature on homelessness, there has been no major research study of the relationship between homelessness and unemployment. This exploratory study aims to identify factors which distinguish between homelessness and disadvantaged job seekers as a first step to gaining a better understanding of the relationship between the two issues. The study employs a survey of clients of Specialist Homeless Services (SHS) and Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers to analyse similarities and differences between the two client groups on several dimensions including educational, health, and employment experiences. While both groups face numerous life challenges; those in the SHS had more chronic health issues and a higher level of social disengagement. Consequently, it is our contention, on the basis of this study, that homelessness and housing instability per se are not necessarily the barriers to participation in labour market programs that some might think.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Unemployment Aftermath of the Crisis
Place of Publication	Australia
Publisher	Centre of Full Employment and Equity
Pages	1-19
Number of pages	19
Publication status	Published - 2013
Event	Path to Full Employment Conference and National Conference on Unemployment - Newcastle, Australia, Australia Duration: 04 Dec 2013 → 05 Dec 2013

Conference

Conference	Path to Full Employment Conference and National Conference on Unemployment
Country/Territory	Australia
Period	04/12/13 → 05/12/13

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 1 No Poverty
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

Cite this

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title = "Homelessness and labour market engagement in Australia",

abstract = "While there is a copious literature on homelessness, there has been no major research study of the relationship between homelessness and unemployment. This exploratory study aims to identify factors which distinguish between homelessness and disadvantaged job seekers as a first step to gaining a better understanding of the relationship between the two issues. The study employs a survey of clients of Specialist Homeless Services (SHS) and Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers to analyse similarities and differences between the two client groups on several dimensions including educational, health, and employment experiences. While both groups face numerous life challenges; those in the SHS had more chronic health issues and a higher level of social disengagement. Consequently, it is our contention, on the basis of this study, that homelessness and housing instability per se are not necessarily the barriers to participation in labour market programs that some might think.",

author = "Adam Steen and David Mackenzie and Darcy McCormack",

year = "2013",

language = "English",

pages = "1--19",

booktitle = "Unemployment Aftermath of the Crisis",

publisher = "Centre of Full Employment and Equity",

note = "Path to Full Employment Conference and National Conference on Unemployment ; Conference date: 04-12-2013 Through 05-12-2013",

}

TY - GEN

T1 - Homelessness and labour market engagement in Australia

AU - Steen, Adam

AU - Mackenzie, David

AU - McCormack, Darcy

PY - 2013

Y1 - 2013

N2 - While there is a copious literature on homelessness, there has been no major research study of the relationship between homelessness and unemployment. This exploratory study aims to identify factors which distinguish between homelessness and disadvantaged job seekers as a first step to gaining a better understanding of the relationship between the two issues. The study employs a survey of clients of Specialist Homeless Services (SHS) and Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers to analyse similarities and differences between the two client groups on several dimensions including educational, health, and employment experiences. While both groups face numerous life challenges; those in the SHS had more chronic health issues and a higher level of social disengagement. Consequently, it is our contention, on the basis of this study, that homelessness and housing instability per se are not necessarily the barriers to participation in labour market programs that some might think.

AB - While there is a copious literature on homelessness, there has been no major research study of the relationship between homelessness and unemployment. This exploratory study aims to identify factors which distinguish between homelessness and disadvantaged job seekers as a first step to gaining a better understanding of the relationship between the two issues. The study employs a survey of clients of Specialist Homeless Services (SHS) and Jobs Services Australia (JSA) providers to analyse similarities and differences between the two client groups on several dimensions including educational, health, and employment experiences. While both groups face numerous life challenges; those in the SHS had more chronic health issues and a higher level of social disengagement. Consequently, it is our contention, on the basis of this study, that homelessness and housing instability per se are not necessarily the barriers to participation in labour market programs that some might think.

M3 - Conference paper

SP - 1

EP - 19

BT - Unemployment Aftermath of the Crisis

PB - Centre of Full Employment and Equity

CY - Australia

T2 - Path to Full Employment Conference and National Conference on Unemployment

Y2 - 4 December 2013 through 5 December 2013

ER -

Homelessness and labour market engagement in Australia

Abstract

Conference

UN SDGs

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Cite this