The Census of Population and Housing conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) presents estimates of the prevalence of homelessness and compiles estimates for specific key groups of people who may be marginally housed but who are not classified as homeless.

The Census aims to enumerate all persons in Australia on Census night (with the exception of foreign diplomats and their families). The Census is conducted every five years. In accordance with the ABS statistical definition, there are three marginally housed groups used to present estimates of marginal housing. Persons living in other crowded dwellings are those whose dwelling requires three extra bedrooms to accommodate them according to the Canadian National Occupancy Standard (CNOS). Persons in other improvised dwellings are those who were living in an ‘improvised home, tent, sleepers-out’ who reported being ‘at home’ on Census night or having 'no usual address’ but not classified as homeless according to the definition.

Census data on the characteristics, geographical distribution and living arrangements of those likely to be homeless are used in the following dashboard menu options: Homeless estimates - personal characteristics and Homeless estimates - geography.

See ABS 2049.0 – Census of Population and Housing: Estimating homelessness (https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/mf/2049.0) for further information, including in-depth commentary and analysis, in particular the source data Quality Declaration. Source table reference 1.2.