Youth Homelessness Matters: There Is Some Hope (at Last) For Young People In Nsw

There is Some Hope (At Last) for Young People Experiencing Homelessness in NSW

31 March 2009

It has been one year since the release of the National Youth Commission's report "Australia's Homeless Youth"1, a report that highlighted the magnitude of youth homelessness in Australia.On any night in Australia that nearly a half of the 105,000 homeless are children and young people. The report also presented a sensible 10 point plan for ending youth homelessness in Australia.

On the eve of Youth Homelessness Matters Day 2009 (1st April), held annually during Youth Week, the peak organisation for youth homelessness services in NSW, the Youth Accommodation Association, is encouraged that the NYC report has had a significant effect on government policy and has contributed to the strong leadership and commitment government has shown at the Commonwealth and State level, to end youth homelessness in Australia. They appear have listened to the voices from the sector and from young homeless people.

"We continue to be encouraged that ending homelessness remains a high priority for the Prime Minister" says Michael Coffey CEO of YAA, "It is even more important now as we enter the current phase of global financial crisis and the prospects of increased youth unemployment."

YAA is also encouraged by the findings in the recent ABS data report "Youth Homelessness in Australia"2 which tell us that young people aged 12 to 18 years who identified themselves as being homeless decreased from 26,060 in 2001 to 21,940 in 2006, a decrease of 16%. This is good news !!!!

"We are pleased because this gives us strong evidence of the success and expertise of youth homelessness services and workers who already provide a wide range of integrated supports such as early intervention, intensive supported accommodation and post crisis support for young people experiencing or at risk of homeless. This is why other countries look to Australia as a leader with regards to our response to youth homelessness"

"But before we pat ourselves on the back, there is still a lot more work to be done yet. Demand exceeds supply. The figures also show an increase in the age range 18-25."

"According to the research the major cause of youth homelessness is family breakdown or violence and the systemic effects of poverty and lack of affordable housing. We are now also seeing young families who are homeless. Many travel between friend or strangers, some sleep in parks and under bridges, but more of them are couch surfing or putting themselves in risky survival situations. We are deeply concerned that children and young people (particularly those that are couch surfing and moving around are often an invisible face of homelessness."

"We are hopeful that the combination of an increased commitment to reducing homeless demonstrated in the Australian Governmentfs White Paper on homelessness, the Government's increased investment in public and community housing and a robust NSW Homelessness Action Framework which builds on the foundations, expertise and successes of the youth homelessness sector in NSW, will present some concrete solutions to break the cycle of youth homelessness in NSW and Australia."

Regional and metro youth homelessness services across NSW will be celebrating Youth Homelessness Matters Day at various sites across the state on 1st April.
Research Reference:

1. National Youth Commission (2008) gAustraliafs Homeless Youth h NYC
2. Mackenzie, D & Chamberlain C (2008) "Youth Homelessness in Australia" RMIT University

SOURCE: YAA