The Centre proudly supports Home Time campaign to end youth homelessness

The Centre is proud to support Home Time’s campaign to end youth homelessness, calling on federal, state and territory governments to act.

Research shows that around one in three young people leaving out-of-home care experience homelessness within their first year, while another Victorian study found more than half of care-experienced young people entered homelessness within four months of leaving.

The Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing found that many care leavers using specialist homelessness services were returning clients: more than two-thirds in the 18-24 age group, and more than half of the clients under 18.

“No child or young person should be sleeping on the street or worrying about whether or not they’ll have a safe place to sleep tonight,” said the Centre’s CEO, Deb Tsorbaris.

“Almost 40,000 children and young people across this country find themselves without a place to call home, every year.

“This is especially true for children and young people who’ve had contact with our child protection services.

“Over 50% of young people experiencing homelessness in Australia are known to child protection.”

The Centre has joined Home Time and other organisations across Australia in asking governments to put housing for young people on the federal agenda this year. We want to see policy reform and dedicated investment, through:  

• Development and maintenance of a national pool of 15,000 dedicated youth tenancies for 16-24-year-olds
• Providing linked support services so young people can pursue their goals and transition to independence
• Addressing the rental gap to ensure viability for housing providers and landlords offering tenancies to young people who have been homeless.

“These changes will give children and young people a stable, supportive environment, and a home of their own where they can thrive,” Ms Tsorbaris said.