Describing homelessness risk among people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Western Australia: A cluster analysis approach

Abstract

Issue Addressed: Housing is a social determinant of health. Migrants are at an increased risk of insecure housing, overcrowding, and homelessness which can lead to poor quality of life and well-being. This study aimed to identify clustering patterns of homelessness risks among people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds in Western Australia (WA). Methods: Participants from CaLD backgrounds (n = 143, 81.8% male) were identified from secondary cross-sectional data sourced from Vulnerability Index Service Prioritisation Decision Assistance Tool (VI-SPDAT) surveys conducted with people experiencing homelessness in Perth, WA, between 2012 and 2020. A two-step cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups within the data, and chi-square tests compared demographic characteristics and drivers of homelessness among the determined clusters. Results: Three distinct clusters were identified and labelled as ‘high-risk group’ (n = 50, 35.0%), ‘medium-risk group’ (n = 39, 27.3%) and ‘low-risk group’ (n = 47, 32.9%). The most vulnerable participants (with VI-SPDAT score ≥ 10) were all clustered in the ‘high-risk group’. Conclusion: The analysis identified subgroups within and between CaLD populations and highlighted limitations with data collection instruments for measuring homelessness among these groups. So What?: To prevent health issues associated with homelessness and improve social determinants of health, improvements in research and service provision are recommended to facilitate equitable access to secure housing for people from CaLD populations.