This Evidence Brief presents key findings about people experiencing mental health issues from Taylor Fry’s Pathways to homelessness report. The authors also discuss implications for policy and practice. By better understanding the experiences and pathways of people experiencing mental health concerns, supports can be put in place earlier to improve outcomes. The analysis uses a linked dataset that includes Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) and 18 other NSW Government and Commonwealth services.

• The Taylor Fry analysis shows that over the six years to June 2017, 1 in 7 (14%) people accessing homelessness services reported mental health as the main reason for seeking assistance. Males and females were equally represented among this group. 
• The likelihood of accessing homelessness services is closely linked to mental health service use. People with mental health issues are between 3 and 26 times more likely than the wider NSW population to access homelessness services within a year of accessing a range of health services.
• People accessing homelessness services with a mental health service need have a very intensive service use history. Cross-sector service use for this group is higher across all services analysed when compared with broader users of homelessness services. People with evidence of acute mental health issues in their service history are 9 times more likely to present to homelessness services.
• Homelessness service use history combined with court presentations appear to be relevant predictors of homelessness experiences and potential intervention points for people with mental health issues. Custody exits also represent another potential intervention point for this cohort. 
• People experiencing mental health issues are one of the fastest growing groups of clients accessing SHS (AIHW 2021). Increased focus on providing housing supports for those exiting health facilities presents an important intervention point.