Mission Australia’s The Unfair Divide youth homelessness report reveals a stark reality: nearly one in 10 young people aged 15 to 19 who responded to Mission Australia’s Youth Survey 2023 endured the challenges of homelessness in the previous 12 months.
These young people were homeless either with or without their families, and recently spent time without a fixed address, living in a refuge or transitional accommodation, or spending time away from home because they felt they couldn’t return
The new report shows that young people who had recently been homeless faced greater challenges compared with young people with stable homes.
“This report demonstrates the harrowing impact of homelessness on young lives,” said Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister.
They were more likely than their peers who hadn’t experienced homelessness to suffer from a mental health condition, experience loneliness, struggle to fit in socially, face financial hardship and have strained or poor family relationships.
Almost half (47%) of young people who had been homeless were lonely all or most of the time compared with 18% of their stably housed peers.
Two in five (41%) of young people who were recently homeless said they had a mental health condition, compared with 13% of young people with stable homes.
They were also more likely to find it difficult to socialise and fit in (46% compared with 26%), and seven times more likely to experience strained or poor family relationships (34% compared with 5%)
Sharon Callister, CEO of Mission Australia, emphasised the profound toll of youth homelessness on a young person’s well-being and future prospects.
“Whether enduring the harsh realities of sleeping rough, seeking refuge in crisis or transitional accommodation, or couch surfing, our Youth Survey confirms the experience of homelessness for young people can be distressing and scarring.”
In response to the findings, Mission Australia says more must be done to improve the well-being of young people who have experienced homelessness and to address the systemic issues perpetuating youth homelessness.
“It should be unacceptable for any young person on the cusp of adulthood to be forced to experience homelessness in Australia,” said Callister.
“Every young person deserves a safe, secure home as a launchpad into adulthood.”
According to Callister, many young people who are at risk of homelessness when seeking help are supported to remain safely housed. But it’s a different story for young people who are already homeless when asking for support. Australia’s housing and homelessness emergency means that most of those young people can’t find housing and so continue to experience homelessness.
“Ending youth homelessness in Australia is possible.”
“Schools and community services must also be well resourced and strengthened to help ensure the wellbeing and safety of young people and their families who are homeless or on the cusp of homelessness.
Callister added that the recent investment from the Federal and some State and Territory governments will make a useful contribution.
“However, with youth homelessness remaining persistently high, we must keep working together to invest in effective solutions.”
“We want to see an Australia where homelessness is rare, brief and non-recurring. But currently, for too many young people, it is neither,” said Callister.