Perceptions and policies around homelessness and community safety

Perceptions and policies around homelessness and community safety

Victoria’s new Premier Ben Carroll this month appointed the State’s first ever Minister for Homelessness. This announcement came a week before the Federal government announced $300 million to build 520 homes across Australia. An RMIT expert unpacks the importance of keeping homelessness on the policy agenda.

Dr Kathryn Daley, Assistant Associate Dean, Social Science Research and Policy Studies:  

"Housing is essential to ending homelessness. But a lack of housing is not the only cause of homelessness, nor the only solution.  

"The perception of homelessness being associated with crime, substance use, family violence and mental health issues is more complex than many understand. While true there is an over-representation of these issues among the homeless population, the relationship is not causal.    

"Social issues such as homelessness and crime are intractably tied to poverty. Those who are living on the margins and lack social, financial and material supports are highly vulnerable to homelessness and escaping homelessness is most challenging.  

"A significant number of people leave prison into homelessness. This group have the most difficulty finding housing and for many, re-offending is a way of survival.   

"If governments and their oppositions are genuinely committed to improving community safety, the solution is not more jails and longer sentences. Preventing homelessness can prevent crime and it keeps communities safer and costs far less than incarcerating the poor."

Dr Kathryn Daley is Assistant Associate Dean, Social Science Research and Policy Studies. Her work is focused on improving the wellbeing of people living on the margins, particularly children and young people. 

Kathryn Daley will be speaking at the Sacred Heart Mission Community Safety and Homelessness Advocacy Forum on Wednesday 26 August at RMIT’s Kaleide Theatre. 

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General media enquiries: RMIT External Affairs and Media, 0439 704 077 or news@rmit.edu.au

26 August 2026

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