Stock-based Compensation, Equity Grants, and Warrants - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands, shares in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Document Fiscal Year Focus			2017
Total compensation expense	$ 63	$ 42	$ 613	$ 384
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	398	60	$ 398	60
Weighted average share based compensation expense recognition period			2 years 6 months
DLH Employees
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	398	24	$ 398	24
Non-employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Unrecognized stock-based compensation expense	0	36	0	36
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | DLH Employees
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	55	6	117	20
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses | Non-employee Directors
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Allocation of Recognized Period Costs [Line Items]
Total compensation expense	$ 8	$ 36	496	364
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