Health Needs Assessment reveals shifting face of people experiencing homelessness

"We are seeing young people and cohorts of people who have never been homeless before present in big numbers. Young people, families, people who have privileged backgrounds."

– Service provider, Brisbane North PHN Homelessness HNA

Insights arising from Brisbane North PHN’s recently commissioned Homelessness Health Needs Assessment (HNA) report underscore that homelessness – and related service use – across our region is growing.

The report provides an overview of homelessness, healthcare supply, need, access and use across the North Brisbane and Moreton Bay region.

Findings draw on quantitative and qualitative data, including interviews with services providers and people with lived and living experiences in the region to present key insights pertaining to prevalence, demographics, health needs, and service utilisation of individuals experiencing homelessness.

We heard:

• the profile of those experiencing homelessness across our region is shifting
• mental, oral and chronic health comorbidities, as well as substance use, mean that there are distinct and unmet health needs across all cohorts
• services are concentrated in few areas, leaving gaps across the region
• these gaps are exacerbated by other barriers hindering people experiencing homelessness' ability to access and utilise services and supports.

The PHN periodically undertakes HNAs across our broader region, including for priority areas and vulnerable populations, to increase build an understanding of service provision and access that is working well, and identifying areas for improvement in the future.

Read the report snapshot.

For more information, please contact Mary Robertson | Priority Communities via email at, Mary.Robertson@brisbanenorthphn.org.au.