ROdown Blog
Homelessness – more than just not having a roof over your head
The plight of young homeless people in Australia first came to light in 1989 after the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Inquiry released the Burdekin Report. However, twenty years on youth homelessness is still a major problem in Australia.
The National Youth Commission Inquiry undertaken in 2008 found that the number of homeless teenagers doubled to 22,000 since 1989, and one in two homeless youths are turned away from emergency shelters every night because services are full. When young adults aged 18 to 25 are added to these figures, the number of homeless young people rises to 36,000.
However, these numbers don’t represent the true numbers. Homelessness does not just include those without a roof over their heads. Many more young people are in unstable housing due to family breakdown or financial issues. Others are sleeping rough, in makeshift shelters or in temporary accommodation.
“Couch surfing” is also common amongst young people who can’t live in their family home. These young people are moving between the houses of friends and family, bunking down on couches or in spare rooms.
Australia is at the crossroads when it comes to the issue of youth homelessness. Homelessness is everyone's responsibility and on 21 December 2008, the Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP and Minister for Housing, Tanya Plibersek MP, released the Government's White Paper on Homelessness: The Road Home.
The Road Home sets out the Government’s plans for reducing homelessness and has ambitious goals that include reducing overall homelessness by half and ensuring that supported accommodation is available to all rough sleepers who need it.
These conversations are part of an initiative by the NSW Commission for Children and Young People, Oasis Youth Service, Youth Accommodation Association (YAA), Association of Children's Welfare Agencies (ACWA) and the Inspire Foundation.
This week we are hosting Feature Forums and would love your thoughts and input about these important issue. The feedback you provide on the forums will be used in the final consultation report that will be handed over to the NSW Government to inform how they create sustainable, long-term initiatives that will tackle the issue of youth homelessness. Here is your chance to influence the decisions made by the Government on this important issue.
So let's kick start the conversation on this blog ....
What is the one thing you think decision-makers need to understand about young people and issues of unstable housing in order for them to create real change on this issue?
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7 Comments
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Becks
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportI would just like to say a HUGE thank you to the RO Crew for putting on such a wonderful Youth Homelessness Awareness week. The guest speakers you got to come on to the ROtreat over this week were fantastic, and I know for me, has helped me to understand a lot more about this issue.
So thank you! And I hope that this issue is something we can work on making a change too!
=)
Becks
Charlotte-RO Crew
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportHey there everyone - why not jump on to the forums and have a look at the bigger discussions there? :)
beforetheworst
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportI think it's awesome to be able to have this discussion and have some amazing people involved this week.
Bella.
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportHey guys... just wanted to say that I'm soooooo disappointed that I can't make it to the discussions this week.
Becks
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportI think young people can leave home for many reasons. Some reasons I can think of would be...
Parents doing drugs or alcohol.
Abusive household.
Fights with parents or siblings.
Parents kick them out because of sexuality or mental health issues.
Run away.
Pregnancy.
Those would be some of the reasons. But I'm sure there would be many more reasons why young people leave home initially.
Becks
Charlotte-RO Crew
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportJoin Cindi Petersen from the Kings Cross Youth at Risk Project on the ROtreat forums tomorrow night (14th) from 6pm - 8pm AEST.
Remember - if you can't make it online - you can still have your say!
Post your comments here - or on the forum all week long!
We want to hear from you!
What do you think makes young people leave home in the first place?
Becks
over 2 years ago
Reply ReportI think this is such an important issue and its great that Inspire is working with the above organisations. =)
In regards to the above question, I think decision makers need to understand that each young person who become homeless, or who have unstable housing, are different and unique. Each young person has their own story to tell, and their situation will be and is different to another young person. In saying this, I think decision makers really have to try not to categorise or label young people.
One of the hardest things that young people face, is that they are often labelled and stereotyped against. Homelessness is no different. To create real change on this issue, government agencies, and all the other people who work with young people, have to not label or categorise a person's situation, but instead, listen to the young person and try to make things as smooth and not as overwhelming as possible.
I hope this makes sense.
Becks