Severe and multiple disadvantage (SMD)
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A person can be said to be experiencing Severe and Multiple Disadvantage (SMD) when they are affected by more than one of the following domains:
- Homelessness
- Substance Use
- Offending
- Mental ill health
- Domestic violence or abuse (DVA)
The categorisation of SMD often uses a numeric index. When two of these sources of disadvantage are present, this can be referred to as SMD2. When there are three, four or five, this can be referred to as SMD3, SMD4, and SMD5, respectively.
SMD is distinct from other types of disadvantage due to the extent of stigma and dislocation from social norms associated with these experiences, which pushes affected individuals to the extreme margins of society. This occurs because of the interlocking nature of these issues and their mutually reinforcing effects on one another, rather than the severity of any single one of them. It is not included in the formal definition but disconnection from services and other available forms of support is very common amongst people experiencing SMD, who can often be said to 'fall between the gaps'.
