A young person’s socio-emotional development is seriously hampered by the traumatising and destabilising experience of homelessness, which has repercussions for their welfare, present, and future.

Our research shows that during COVID-19, young people who were experiencing homelessness for the first time reported experiencing severe psychological distress, family strife, discrimination, and a variety of other pressures.

What is unrecognised homelessness?

Sleeping on the streets is just one aspect of experiencing homelessness. It can involve sleeping on couches, in automobiles, or in packed shelters. In a refuge or temporary residence, young people who became homeless for the first time during the epidemic suffered concealed homelessness.

More than half of the young people who experienced homelessness for the first time also reported experiencing psychological distress:

• One in three people who were made homeless because to the pandemic reported feeling “extremely sad/sad.”
• More over a third of respondents assessed their mental health and wellness as “bad.”
• Twenty-four percent of respondents stated they had unfavourable feelings.
• More than half said they had been the victim of unjust treatment or discrimination, often because of their gender, sexual orientation, or mental health.

Can we put an end to homeless youth?

Ending youth homelessness in Australia requires shedding light on the experiences of these young people and the risk factors. We may further intervene to avoid youth homelessness in the following ways:

• Help us promote change by speaking out for early intervention and prevention. While we support government action, we are pushing for resources tailored to young people to help ensure their wellbeing, safety, and security. See more of the advocacy work we’ve done to promote change in our communities.
• Increase awareness: Disseminating the results of our latest study aids in increasing public understanding of youth homelessness. To obtain updates on how you may participate, follow us on social media.
• Elevate the voices of young people by reading stories about them and seeking for opportunities to tell others about them. Sharing uplifting tales about young people who have been homeless will help others realise the severity of the problem in our neighbourhoods.
• Give to support the cost of essential services: Your one-time or continuing donation can support a number of our programmes that help vulnerable young people receive prompt intervention, a safe place to live, and continuous support to end the cycle of homelessness.