CANBERRANS on low incomes are struggling to get access to affordable housing and there is an increase in the number of people turned away from homeless services, according to new research. 

The national survey, undertaken by the Australian Council of Social Service and ACT Council of Social Service and spanning over 500 community services across the nation, also found that other unmet needs in the territory include emergency relief, youth services, domestic violence, sexual assault, and legal support.

“The national survey found nearly 70 per cent of housing and homeless services reported that they struggled to meet demand, with a 5 per cent increase in the number of people turned away.” says Director of the ACT Council of Social Service Susan Helyar.

“The gaps in access to emergency financial assistance, youth services, domestic violence and sexual assault services are a huge concern to ACTCOSS and our members,” Ms Helyar says.

“Good responses to people seeking these services will reduce harm and set people up well to develop the skills and resources needed to build their independence, participate in their community and be resilient in the face of other life challenges.

“Turning people away from services is an opportunity cost too expensive to ignore.  Turning people away increases the risk of long term harm and drives ongoing demand for crisis responses that are not only expensive, they are less effective because they can only respond to symptoms not causes”

The report also looked at how services are coping with ongoing unmet demand. Sixty five per cent of services reported staff and/or volunteers needing to work extra ours to bridge the gap between service capacity and community need.