On the Margins? Housing risk among caravan park residents

This paper is a preliminary review of a study being undertaken by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute: University of Western Sydney Research Centre and University of New South Wales, on the nature and prevalence of permanent residency in caravan parks in Australia and the risk of homelessness. This is the first in a number of outputs from the project and provides a comprehensive review of the relevant policy and academic literature, describes the policy issues that are to be addressed in the research project, and details the research methods that will be used to complete the project.The aims of this study are to:1. develop a typology of caravan parks sorted by geographical location and resident population;2. provide a profile of groups who are vulnerable to homelessness among caravan park dwellers,3. identify the risk factors among groups likely to precipitate housing crisis;4. analyse pathways into caravan parks and the incidence of incipient homelessness;5. explore the potential pathways out of this form of marginal housing and the policy supports needed to effect this;6. assess the benefit of early intervention among caravan residents ‘at risk’ of homelessness; and7. contribute to the development of current AHURI funded research at the UWS/UNSW AHURI Research Centre on predictors of housing vulnerability and incipient homelessness.The project addresses a critical policy need in human services. Namely, better intelligence on the location and profile of vulnerable people living in one segment of the marginal housing sector, caravans, and the extent to which they are at risk of homelessness.