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It's time to face the reality of Australia's youth homelessness crisis

Yfoundations

Key Facts:

In 2024–25, 42,763 children and young people (under 25 years) presented on their own to a specialist homelessness service (SHS)*

 

10-24 year olds make up 25% of the homeless population.

On any night, half of the young people who tried to get a bed in a crisis refuge in 2024–25
were turned away because services aren’t sufficiently funded to accommodate them. Where do these ‘turn-aways’ go? Back to violent homes, couch surfing with friends or in unsafe situations or sleeping rough.

 

The most common reasons young people sought assistance from an SHS in 2024–25 were:

• Domestic and family violence

• Housing crisis

• Relationship/family breakdown

 

Over a third of young people (15-24 years) presenting to homelessness services reported experiencing domestic and family violence. Front line workers say the rate they see is even higher – most services report it being over 90%.

 

Approx one-third of young people presenting alone to Specialist Homelessness Services identified as Indigenous.

 

Almost half of young people (15-24) presenting alone to services had a mental health concern.

 

Young SHS clients presenting alone were more likely to be couch surfing, compared with any other SHS client group. Couch surfing leaves young people vulnerable to servitude, exploitation and abuse

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2025), Specialist Homelessness Services Annual Report 2024–25.

Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD) is April 15. For 20 years, this day has been raising awareness about the issues and realities of children and young people experiencing and at risk of homelessness. It needs to be a priority for state and federal governments to address and needs to be high on the public agenda.

Yfoundations CEO John Macmillan said “Governments and the community need to recognise we all need to band together to solve the issue. It’s what needs to happen to make change for children and young people experiencing homelessness. It’s the time for governments to bring the rhetoric to an end. It’s time to plan for and adequately fund solutions to end youth homelessness.” 

Once again youth homelessness service providers have united and joined forces with the property and building industry and the media and advertising sector to raise awareness of child and youth homelessness. The partnership between Yfoundations, the Property Industry Foundation and UnLtd is representative of the community needing to come together to drive change.

“The Property Industry Foundation exists to bring the property and construction industry together to have a tangible impact on homeless youth. Collaboration is in our DNA so we are delighted to continue this broader collaboration between the property industry, the media industry and the youth homelessness sector – to raise awareness and funds for youth homelessness. It’s a tragedy that in a country with 13 million empty bedrooms, there will be over 40,000 young people without a safe and secure place to sleep,” said Kate Mills, Property Industry Foundation CEO.

 

Despite a quarter of the homeless population being between 10-24 years old, child and youth homelessness is a largely invisible issue. Over 43,000 children and young people (under the age of 25) presented alone to specialist homelessness services. This doesn’t capture the thousands who don’t present to services. There are countless children and young people who stay in alternative arrangements including couch surfing, on the streets, with friends/extended family and improvised dwellings, who didn’t seek assistance aren’t included in this figure.

The harsh reality is the specialist homelessness services that support unattended children and young people are severely underfunded. Half the young people presenting to services are turned away every night because they simply cannot be accommodated. This is traumatic for the young people presenting, front line workers and service providers.

“Crisis beds are essential, but they’re not enough on their own. Young people deserve housing options that give them the time and support to break the cycle of homelessness. Medium‑term accommodation is one of the most effective tools we have, and it must be part of the future of youth housing in NSW,” said Nikki Butterfield from SLH Youth Services in Sydney.

Children and young people experiencing homelessness have different needs to adults that need to be provided for. Placing them into adult services does not cater to these specific needs and can leave them exposed to unsafe environments. It’s time to stop the adultification of young people and fund the services that effectively respond to their experience of homelessness.

Children and young people experiencing homelessness need more than a bed. The majority have been victims of domestic and family violence. Approximately half have mental health concerns. A third of children and young people experiencing homelessness are Indigenous. Young people need living skills development and support, along with a safe place to live to ensure they achieve their full potential.

Young people who reach their full potential are an asset to Australia economically and socially. State, territory and federal governments have a responsibility to invest in solutions to work towards ending youth homelessness and to adequately resource these services on an ongoing basis.

“At 16, I was in a refuge. I didn’t have any parental or family guidance, so my youth workers were the positive influence that I needed. Having that guidance prompted me to become a youth worker myself and to be that positive role model for other young people. I love being an example to young people so they can achieve their goals despite the challenges they might face.”  Natasha Ransford YHRC council member with lived experience.

Youth Homelessness Matters Day is an opportunity for the youth homelessness sector and the Australian public to come together and raise awareness of this important issue. Anyone can show their support in a variety of ways:

Educate: share YHMD messaging and content
Activate: host or attend events
Donate: to youth homelessness services
Advocate: to end child and youth homelessness

We are urging national and state governments to make ending child and youth homelessness a national priority by adequately funding the services needed to achieve this objective and by introducing a Youth Housing Supplement to ensure children and young people are no longer locked out of social housing.

We’re urging the Australian public to donate to child and youth homelessness services, so they have the resources to supply more services.

Yhmd.org.au

About us:

For over 45 years, Yfoundations has served as the NSW peak body providing a voice for children and young people at risk of and experiencing homelessness, as well as the services that provide direct support to them.

We aim to create a future without youth homelessness by campaigning for children and young people experiencing and at risk of homelessness. We work collaboratively with service providers, NGOs, government departments and community members to provide advocacy, sector development and policy advice, health projects, research, and services for children and young people.

Contact details:

Yfoundations Contacts:

For media comment:
John Macmillan
CEO – Yfoundations
[email protected]

Communication enquiries and information on YHMD:
Sam Woods
Marketing, Communications and YHMD Campaign Manager – Yfoundations
[email protected]

Yfoundations can help put you in contact with state-based organisations who are available for comment.