Stock-based Compensation and Equity Grants - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2016
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	$ 662	$ 466
Total unrecognized expense	$ 299	42
Period for recognition of related compensation expense	27 months
DLH employees | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	$ 166	90
Total unrecognized expense	299	18
Non-employee directors | Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	496	376
Total unrecognized expense	$ 0	$ 24