Previous street counts
Frequently asked questions
StreetCount2012
The City of Melbourne will undertake StreetCount2012 in June this year — the fifth such count of people ‘sleeping rough’ in the municipality. The 2012 count will enable a comprehensive comparison with the findings from the four previous Street Counts.
StreetCount2012 will collect accurate and up-to-date information about people experiencing homelessness within parklands, streets and other key areas of the municipality.
Seeking a better understanding of the needs and aspirations of people who are homeless in Melbourne, the count will assist the City of Melbourne to plan, develop and make decisions about appropriate long-term solutions for homelessness.
Once the StreetCount2012 has been completed and evaluated, we will determine whether efforts aimed at ending homelessness within the City of Melbourne are making a real and measurable difference.
Back to top
Previous street counts
StreetCount2011
The City of Melbourne conducted its fourth count of people who are homeless and ‘sleeping rough’ in the municipality in June 2011.
Key findings included:
- A total of 105 people were counted
- 77% were male and 12% were female
- The gender of the remaining 11% was unable to be identified.
- 34% of those counted were aged 41 – 69.
- 35% were aged 26 – 40.
- 8% were aged 18 – 25
- 8% were aged over 60.
StreetCount2010
The City of Melbourne conducted its third count of people who are homeless and ‘sleeping rough’ in the municipality in June 2010.
Key findings included:
- A total of 101 people were counted
- 71% of those counted were male and 14% were female
- The gender of the remaining 15% was unable to be identified by observation
Download the StreetCount 2010 report:
StreetCount2010 report (PDF, 220kb) 
StreetCount2010 report (text only, 369kb)
Back to top
StreetCount2009
The City of Melbourne conducted its second count of people who are homeless and ‘sleeping rough’ in the municipality in June 2009.
Key findings included:
- A total of 75 people were counted, 68 per cent of those counted were male and 17per cent were female. The gender of the remaining 15 per cent was unable to be identified by observation during the Street Count because of their sleeping arrangements.
- 72 per cent were alone and one per cent were couples, 31 per cent were aged 26-40 and 42 per cent aged 41-60.
- 21 per cent slept on the street and 13 per cent in parks, and 39 per cent were located in the central city.
- 46 per cent of those surveyed had been staying in their current location for under one month, of these 20 per cent stayed in their current location for under a week.
- 63 per cent of those surveyed had been moving around for more than 12 months and 36 per cent reported moving around for over five years.
Back to top
StreetCount2008
The City of Melbourne conducted the first count of people who are homeless and ‘sleeping rough’ in the municipality in June 2008.
Key findings included:
- A total of 112 people were counted, 70 per cent were male and 14 per cent female (some people were unable to be identified because of their sleeping arrangements).
- 68 per cent were alone and 15 per cent were couples, 55 per cent were aged 26-40 and 24 per cent aged 41-60.
- 42 per cent slept on the street and 38 per cent in parks, and 49 per cent were located in the CBD.
- 47 per cent of those surveyed had been staying in their current location for less than two weeks, of these 31 per cent stayed in their current location for under a week.
- 63 per cent of those surveyed had been moving around for more than 12 months and 36 per cent reported moving around for over five years.
StreetCount2008 confirmed primary homelessness as an issue in Melbourne. The results of the Street Count were presented to a service sector forum held in November 2008.
Back to top
For further information, read the Street Count frequently asked questions.