NHMRC opened this Targeted Call for Research (TCR) into Homelessness and Health on 22 October 2025 and applications closed on 17 December 2025.
This TCR was prioritised by the Commonwealth States and Territories Joint Working Committee.
Homelessness and Housing insecurity are widely acknowledged as key social determinants of health. This TCR grant opportunity seeks to investigate the short and long-term adverse health outcomes experienced by individuals living in unstable housing conditions. The insights gained from this research will inform the development and implementation of comprehensive interventions aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities among people experiencing homelessness in Australia.
Successful applications for this TCR:
- Evaluate service models targeting people facing housing instability and homelessness, who have general health conditions or mental illness, focusing on their impact on improved health outcomes.
- Improve policy and service delivery to better meet the needs of people with health and mental health support needs who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
- Identify barriers to integration between housing, homelessness and health/mental health outcomes.
- Build research capacity to establish the link between housing, homelessness and health/mental health outcomes.
The expected outcomes of this TCR are to:
- Implement interventions to build an evidence base across a range of issues experienced by those facing homelessness that contribute to poor health outcomes.
- Improve health service delivery and health outcomes for people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.
- Enhance integration of healthcare services and housing and homelessness policy and service provision, with potential positive impacts on government efficiency and sustainability.
- Coordinate, evidence-informed approach that integrates health, housing, and homelessness policy across government sectors. Identification and application of rigorous evaluation methodologies for integrated health and housing interventions.
- Expand collaborative research on homelessness and health across Australia, fostering a cross-sector research community.
- Provide advice to governments to support the establishment of governance mechanisms and policy authority for coordinated, multiagency responses.