Developed by Hope Street Youth and Family Services

A research project by Hope Street Youth and Family Services in response to youth homelessness in Melton

Mental health and homelessness have a bidirectional relationship, with poorer mental health associated with a lower likelihood of achieving stable housing, and unstable housing contributing to worsening mental health. International studies have revealed that up to 98% of youth have at least one mental health disorder.  In Australia, just over 50% of young people report having been diagnosed with at least one mental health condition, and that does not include those who are not yet formally diagnosed.  Young people experiencing both homelessness and mental ill-health are Victoria's most vulnerable citizens.

Hope Street's July 2019 submission to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System addresses Question 2 of the formal submission process: What is already working well and what can be done better to prevent mental illness and to support people to get early treatment and support?

Hope Street's submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Homelessness in Victoria brings to the fore the issues of most concern for young people and young families who are experiencing homelessness in Victoria.

Hope Street interviewed and consulted with current and previous Hope Street clients, and their Case Managers, to capture their voices and opinions on how Victoria can best respond to youth homelessness. Overwhelmingly, the most pressing feedback we received from young people is that youth homelessness requires a specialist response that is different to the response required by the general homeless population. In the absence of youth-specific responses, young people are often missing out on resources and falling through the gaps. Young people also require homelessness services to be available in their own communities, not only centralized in Melbourne city.

In 2015 Hope Street submitted this position paper to the Royal Commission into Family Violence inquiring into and providing practical recommendations on how Victoria's response to family violence could be improved.

In a recent Housing Europe report it was suggested that "the number of people experiencing homelessness has increased in all EU countries under review except for Finland". Homelessness in Finland has been reduced by more than half over the last 25 years, with a significant decline in those who have been homeless for a long time. 

This report aims to provide some insights into the model of tackling homelessness in Finland.

A research project by Victoria University evaluating the effectiveness of a new model for improving the lives of young people affected by homelessness.

See Also: VU researchers working with partners to assist homeless youth