With only a short time remaining until the Prime Minister calls the 2025 Federal Election, the Home Time Youth Housing Coalition has launched its election platform with a challenge to all parties and candidates to announce their plans to reduce the number of Australian children and young people who are alone with nowhere to live.
Over the course of the last three years, the number of unaccompanied children and young people aged 15-24 seeking crisis homelessness help has not fallen significantly, despite increased housing investment from the current Federal Government. Around 25% are children aged 15-17.
In total, young people approached specialist homelessness services for assistance 116,200 times in that period, not including those turned away due to capacity issues. At the same time, less than 3% of public and community housing tenants are under 25.
These two numbers highlight a broken housing system that cannot meet the needs of children and young people in crisis.
Frontline services around the country are reporting an increase over summer in both the number of children and young people alone with nowhere to live and the complexity of their situations. For example, the number of 15-17 year-olds seeking help through Victoria's statewide youth homelessness entry point more than tripled in December 2024 compared with the year before.
Research has shown that family violence causes around 80% of all child and youth homelessness. Children aged 15-17, girls and young women, First Nations young people, and LGBTIQ+ young people are disproportionately represented.
The Home Time Youth Housing Coalition of 170 organisations across the country is calling for the creation of a national target of 15,000 tenancies with support for young people, and removal of financial barriers that discriminate against young people trying to access community housing.
Shorna Moore, from Home Time and Melbourne City Mission, said "Australia is facing another term of government with no meaningful reduction in child and youth homelessness. Strong and targeted interventions during a young person's experience of homelessness can change the course of their life, with safety, health, education, employment and social benefits."
"Home Time is writing to all MPs and candidates seeking a commitment to fix housing for young people in the next term of government. We have seen some progress, but we need to see a dedicated focus on young people and greater investment in youth housing."
"This election presents an opportunity to give young people the kinds of opportunities we want for our own kids and all young people. The benefits for each young person are huge, but the social and economic benefits for our community and government itself are even greater."
Kate Colvin, from Homelessness Australia, said "As we head into an election, we need strong commitments from all sides of politics to fix youth housing. Every homeless young person who can't return home needs safe housing and support."
"The Home Time Youth Housing Coalition of over 170 organisations is calling for 15,000 dedicated tenancies with support for young people nationally and action to remove the youth housing penalty from Australia's housing system. Without action, nothing will change."
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Background information
Data released in 2024 revealed that almost 40,000 young people had approached homelessness services for assistance with almost 10,000 aged 15-17 with nowhere to live and no parental or carer support. Most troubling was the fact 44% were still homeless after receiving assistance due to a lack of dedicated youth housing.
Two recent national polls have found deep concern about housing and homelessness for young Australians, with 84% of respondents worried about affordability and 91% concerned about the number of young people without a home.
Home Time is supported by over 170 organisations, including Homelessness Australia, Community Housing Industry Association, National Shelter, Melbourne City Mission, Australian Youth Affairs Coalition, ACOSS, The Salvation Army, Anglicare Australia, Brisbane Youth Service, Mission Australia, Foyer Foundation, YFoundations and the Australian Services Union.
