Media release –
New South Wales
Census partnership with Nepean Homeless Hubs counts3 August 2011 | NSW/96The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is partnering with Wentworth Community Housing to conduct four Homeless Hubs throughout the Nepean area, in support of an accurate count of homelessness for this year’s national Census on Tuesday 9 August. NSW Census Director Mark Harding says that these Hubs being held in Blacktown, Hawkesbury, Katoomba and Penrith during National Homeless Persons Week, bring together a number of support organisations to offer a powerful one-stop shop for people experiencing homelessness. “On the last Census night in 2006, the homeless population in Australia was 105,000, with 42 homeless people per every 10,000 here in NSW. “An accurate count of homelessness on Census night is crucial so that decision makers can improve and target homeless services," Mr Harding says. Mr Harding says that the ABS has recruited 350 Homeless Special Census Collectors in NSW to help in the count of rough sleepers on Census night. “Having people with an understanding of homelessness on the team is crucial to ensuring that we get an accurate count. "Many of those we've recruited as Special Collectors have previously worked in the homelessness sector or have been homeless themselves. "This experience is invaluable and we know that their knowledge will go a long way towards making sure we get a true snapshot of homelessness," Mr Harding adds. More information is available online at www.abs.gov.au/census or by calling the Census Inquiry Service on 1300 338 776
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