Using Administrative Data for Research on Homelessness: Applying a US Framework to Australia

• Published date: 01 June 2017
• Date: 01 June 2017
• Author: Yi‐Ping Tseng,Stephen Metraux
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8462.12216

Policy Forum: Australian Homelessness—Research and Policy

Insights

Using Administrative Data for Research on Homelessness:

Applying a US Framework to Australia

Stephen Metraux and Yi-Ping Tseng*

Abstract

The past decade has seen increased use in

Australia in the use of administrative data

in homelessness research. We review this

research, using a framework from the US

literature, and highlight innovative and policy-

relevant Australian initiatives in f‌ive areas.

While the use of administrative data in

Australian research on homelessness has

lagged behind what has been done in the

United States, the emerging body of Australian

research in this area should continue to take an

increased role in understanding and informing

responses to homelessness. We conclude by

assessing the opportunities and challenges

facing continued research using this type of

data.

1. Introduction

Twenty years ago, Culhane and Metraux

(1997) presented a research agenda to guide

the still novel approach of using administra-

tive data to inform research and policy on

homelessness. At that time, Culhane and his

colleagues had published several studies (for

example, Culhane et al. 1994) that had

demonstrated how administrative data could

provide a basis for fresh perspectives on

homelessness. In their agenda, Culhane and

Metraux presented f‌ive domains for extending

the reach of administrative data: (i) popula-

tion, enumeration and composition; (ii) inte-

grated database research; (iii) time series and

longitudinal studies; (iv) program evaluation;

and (v) system management and administra-

tion. Here, we apply their agenda to an

Australian context and examine the progress

made in using administrative data to inform

research on Australian homelessness.

Administrative data, in the context of

research on homelessness, are computerised

records that are collected by public and non-

prof‌it agencies on the services that they provide

and the persons that use them. As administra-

tive databases have become more common-

place, so has their role in research applications.

As with all data types, there are advantages and

disadvantages inherent to using administrative

data in research. Administrative data represent

an accurate, timely, inexpensive and practical

means of collecting longitudinal data on

service use, earnings, program eligibility and

other related areas and are the only way to

* Metraux: Department of Health Policy and Public Health,

University of the Sciences, Pennsylvania 19104-4495

United States, and National Center on Homelessness

among Veterans, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs,

Pennsylvania 19104-6214 United States; Tseng:

Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social

Research, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010

Australia. Corresponding author: Tseng, email <y.tseng@

unimelb.edu.au>.

The Australian Economic Review, vol. 50, no. 2, pp. 205–13

°

C2017 The University of Melbourne, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research

Published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd