Youth Homelessness Matters Day  

Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD) is a national day that aims to raise awareness and public discussion about child and youth homelessness. It's a day to start conversations about sustainable and innovative solutions to support the needs of young people experiencing homelessness. On any given night, over 28,200 young people in Australia are experiencing homelessness. (ABS Census, 2021).  

On April 17th 2024 Hope Street staff attended the launch of the new edition of Parity, "Going it Alone: Unaccompanied Child and Youth Homelessness - Pathways into and out of Homelessness." Parity magazine is Australia’s leading national homelessness publication. The launch event was attended by lived experience advocates, community, youth and social service workers, young people, and young families with lived experience of homelessness, members of Government and people in the community interested in ending child and youth homelessness.  

The opening address was provided by the Hon. Josh Burns MP, Chair of the Human Rights Committee. “Nearly 40,000* young people are homeless, and they need to be at the heart of everything we do... today we come together to remind ourselves of who this is about. Young people. Every Australian deserves to have a safe home.” - Josh Burns MP.  

The highlight of the event was a vital and lively panel discussion of young people with lived experience to share their stories and views on how to create an improved service response and what matters to them. Johnathan, a young person from Hope Street shared how important it is to get support for mental health. Having accommodation and food options. “When I got into a refuge, where I had a bed, shower and food was great. Even just to sit on a couch and watch T.V was great rather than sit in a park all day and stare at a tree wondering where I would go next for the night.” When asked what does wrap around support look like, Johnathan spoke on his positive experience with Hope Street, “support teams that offer a range of supports including case managers, counselling, life skills and activities that are all needed for young people to move on.”  

Hope Street's Chief Executive Officer, Donna Bennett featured on a Panel discussion hosted by Kate Colvin, CEO of Homelessness Australia, alongside Natalie McDonald, CEO of Quantum Support Services; Stephen Nash, CEO Kids Under Cover as well as Shorna Moore, MCM; Wayne Merritt, WAYSS. 

Donna Bennett from Hope Street spoke passionately about the current realities of young people experiencing homelessness: “It is now impossible to get a young person into private rental. Youth allowance is not enough. Only 0.04% of social and public housing is provided to young people. Child and youth homelessness across Australia must be considered as a state of emergency.  We are at a critical turning point in history in Australia requiring immediate action.” 

Youth Homelessness Matters Day is an urge for all levels of government to take real action and provide the necessary funding to implement solutions. From the perspective of young people with lived experience, the social support they receive from Hope Street is vital to improving their connection to community and wellbeing.  

For this new April 2024 edition of Parity, Hope Street has submitted multiple articles on youth homelessness which advocates for young people and aims at addressing the systemic barriers to housing that impact on Australia’s most vulnerable citizens.  

Hope Street will be posting these articles to continue the advocacy on this important issue and provide solutions to the community.  
 

Articles which feature in April 2024 edition by Hope Street include: 

Donna Bennett’s Opinion Piece, pg. 90  

Safety First: The Medical System Failing Vulnerable Young People on Mental Health, pg. 38 

Multidisciplinary approaches in the homelessness sector: Views from the second-floor balcony; a Case study on lived experience youth homelessness. By Gary Hoang, pg. 42.  

Championing Health at Hope Street. By Jamileh Hargreaves and A/Prof. Jessica Heerde, pg 46.   

Announcing the next steps for Hope Street; sustainable housing options with long-term solutions. By Sue Scott, pg. 78 

Education is just the beginning for young people: Collaboration, inclusion and paid placements vital to the youth homelessness service sector, achieve great equity and cultural harmony across communities. Ruby Kelly-Gurthie and Jamileh Hargreaves, pg. 65.   

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*Nearly 40,000 children and young Australians receive homeless services on an annual basis without an adult present, according to the latest figures from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.