Sign Our Petition
Sign the petition
Petition to: The Hon. Amanda Rishworth MP, Minister for Social Services, and The Hon. Julie Collins MP, Minister for Homelessness
We need 15,000 signatures
Sign Our Petition
To develop a standalone national strategy to end child and youth homelessness
Why this petition matters
Homelessness continues to worsen for children and young people in Australia and there is no overarching strategy to tackle this impending crisis coming our way.
We need to ensure that our children and young people are safe, supported and given every opportunity to thrive. Ending child and youth homelessness will only be a reality if a clear, targeted and developmentally appropriate standalone Child and Youth Homelessness and Housing Strategy is created.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2016 Census data showed a 26% increase in homelessness over a 10-year period for 12 to 24-year-olds. This number is estimated to increase in the 2021 Census data following the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and cost of living pressures. The most recent Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) data indicates that almost 40,000 children and young people aged 15 to 24 years presented alone to an SHS in 2021–22, representing the third largest client group. We are also seeing children as young as 12 years old coming into youth homelessness services on their own.
Children and young people experience multiple pathways into homelessness and the breadth of their issues and vulnerabilities are complex and distinct from those of adults. They also experience some of the most insidious, hidden, and dangerous forms of homelessness. Almost one-third of young people presenting alone to a homelessness service were couch surfing at the start of their support. Couch surfing leaves young people vulnerable to servitude, exploitation and abuse. Moreover, around a third of young people presenting alone have experienced domestic and family violence, and many are experiencing it in their own intimate relationships. They are turning up to youth homelessness services when they have no safe accommodation but are often being turned away because these services are at capacity.
We must act now to ensure there are safe and supported options for children and young people before they face dire and dangerous situations. We are calling on the Australian Government to ensure there is a standalone Child and Youth Homelessness and Housing Strategy.
Children and young people do not have the same coping strategies and resources generally attributed to adults and thus require a range of accommodation and support models depending on their age and development, independence and presenting issues. This includes specialist youth crisis accommodation, transitional accommodation, medium-term accommodation, specialist domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) support and accommodation, family reunification services, Youth Foyers, youth social housing and affordable private rentals. Currently, there is a serious lack of options across their continuum of need.
Yfoundations has reviewed current state homelessness and housing strategies and identified that actions relating to children and young people were largely in the context of early intervention, Youth Foyers and supporting young people leaving out of home care (OOHC). While these are important commitments, they only scratch the surface to respond to the breadth of issues and vulnerabilities of children and young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, particularly those facing it on their own.
The private and social housing market fails to help young people. Private rentals are unaffordable, inaccessible, and unattainable. Anglicare’s 2022 Rental Snapshot shows there was only ONE rental property in all of Australia for someone on the youth allowance payment. Young people also face barriers obtaining a social housing property due to long wait times and a lack of policy requiring housing providers to quarantine a percentage of their portfolio for this cohort. Combined with woefully low income support, young people are now facing homelessness and a future of trauma and vulnerability which we have the opportunity to change now if the Australian Government commits to a standalone National Child and Youth Homelessness and Housing Strategy.
It will take a whole of government and community approach to end child and youth homelessness in Australia. This is why we are calling on YOU to sign the petition. Demand that the Australian Government agrees to develop a National Child and Youth Homelessness and Housing Strategy today and be a part of the change.
For more detail on child and youth homelessness and the case for a national strategy, read our recent article in Parity magazine here.
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Tracy Johnston signed 2024-04-17 20:28:54 +1000
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Samantha Cockcroft signed 2024-04-17 20:16:20 +1000Because too many young people are without a safe and suitable home.
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Kristy Fischer signed 2024-04-17 20:07:27 +1000
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Lizzie Howard signed 2024-04-17 20:02:27 +1000Love of humanity
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Sophie Calic signed 2024-04-17 20:01:19 +1000Because I see youth homelessness first hand and it’s clear that this group have specific and significant needs that require a targeted response
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Jessica Younan signed 2024-04-17 20:01:10 +1000An expert I trust has circulated this petition. I back her work.
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Christopher Mann signed 2024-04-17 19:59:14 +1000
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Everyone should always have a roof over them- it’s our basic right
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Anna Dreverman signed 2024-04-17 19:47:19 +1000Cause this matters!!
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Tilly Blazely signed 2024-04-17 19:46:31 +1000
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Janine Nell signed 2024-04-17 19:27:54 +1000Extremely important to look after our vulnerable youth 🙏
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Amanda Murray signed 2024-04-17 19:21:02 +1000I work in the housing and homelessness sector and youth homelessness has been overrepresented for far too long – enough is enough!
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Paola Hooda signed 2024-04-17 19:14:51 +1000Youth homelessness is a Public Health crisis
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Michelle Allen signed 2024-04-17 19:08:34 +1000
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Evan Hadkins signed 2024-04-17 19:03:33 +1000
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Kerrie Humphrey signed 2024-04-17 18:56:33 +1000Because it matters
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Sophie Ross signed 2024-04-17 18:44:34 +1000I’m a mum, and the thought of any young person being homeless and vulnerable makes my heart break
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Sandra Lupton signed 2024-04-17 18:37:11 +1000
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Alex Armitage signed 2024-04-17 18:30:29 +1000
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Tilliah Brooks signed 2024-04-17 18:25:55 +1000To support young people experiencing homelessness
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Christina Jamieson signed 2024-04-17 18:23:19 +1000Some kids just don’t have the basics of a safe place. While we nestle our kids and they are nice and warm, some kids just don’t have that security, the mentor that gives them security and direction that children just need. Homeless. Bildern should just not be an issue in a first world country.
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Elizabeth Williams signed 2024-04-17 18:21:20 +1000
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Sophie Nowlan signed 2024-04-17 18:10:24 +1000Children & young shouldn’t be homeless.
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Kay Bebington signed 2024-04-17 18:06:17 +1000A real need in the. Community
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Penny Hummerston signed 2024-04-17 18:05:02 +1000
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Karla McIntosh signed 2024-04-17 18:04:48 +1000
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Jackie Cassat signed 2024-04-17 17:59:24 +1000
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Charlie Burton signed 2024-04-17 17:56:31 +1000Young people in Tasmania aged 12-25 make up about 25% of the homeless population. This is unacceptable and will affect these young people for the rest of their lives. We need a dedicated plan and the resources to ensure every young person is housed in safe, stable, affordable accommodation.
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Ebony Cross signed 2024-04-17 17:56:26 +1000
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Mary Dodd signed 2024-04-17 17:56:02 +1000Youth homelessness has such an impact on a young person’s education and therefore on their ability to achieve and fulfil their potential.