Experiences of homelessness 

The By-Name List (BNL) contains information which is provided to ESSC by people experiencing homelessness (either rough/street sleeping or in emergency/crisis accommodation) through the Vulnerability Index – Service Prioritisation Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT).  

The VI-SPDAT (also known as "the survey") is voluntary and relies on people’s disclosed information. While the VI-SPDAT can be used in a de-identified way to inform research and policy, it’s primarily used to inform service and case/support workers, assisting them in providing the appropriate level of support and matching an individual with the right housing, healthcare, and social services. 

This report contains information from the By-Name List (BNL), the only common system that provides an insight into a person’s journey through homelessness over time.   

How to use the report 

Use the filter at the top of the page to select one or more NSW District Groups, and then scroll down to learn more about the experiences of people experiencing homelessness in that area. You can click on the report to highlight specific fields or visuals.  

Information displayed in the report is drawn from the BNL. This is a live database and is refreshed every 24 hours. 

The experiences of homelessness report is drawn from live data and is a work in progress, we value your feedback. Please share your insights and suggestions by contacting enquiries@endstreetsleeping.org  

To find out more about the VI-SPDAT click on the link here: https://aaeh.org.au/assets/docs/Publications/2020-VI-SPDAT-Factsheet-and-QA.PDF