Stock-based Compensation, Equity Grants, and Warrants - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus			2017
Total compensation expense	$ 64	$ 10	$ 549	$ 342
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	412	101	412	101
DLH Employees
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	404	30	404	30
Non-employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	8	71	8	71
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | DLH Employees
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	56	6	63	14
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | Non-employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	$ 8	$ 4	486	328
Restricted Stock [Member] | Non-employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense			$ 456	$ 304
Long Term Incentive Plan 2006 | Employee Stock Option
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Number of shares available for grant					0.5
Expiration term			10 years