Ahead of Youth Homelessness Matters Day, our CEO Pam Barker spoke with ABC Brisbane’s Kelly Higgins-Devine about the urgent issue of youth homelessness in Australia and the need for immediate action.
Listen to Pam Barker’s full interview with ABC Brisbane:
Key facts:
- Over one in three people experiencing homelessness in Queensland are under 25.
- Around 43,000 young Australians seek homelessness support each year.
- Last year alone, Brisbane Youth Service provided support on over 68,000 occasions.
Many Australians are unaware of the extent of this crisis happening right here in our community. Young people affected include parents, university students, and even employed individuals, often couch-surfing, staying in emergency shelters, or sleeping rough due to the shortage of affordable housing.
Key drivers of youth homelessness:
- Family violence: Three out of four young people supported by Brisbane Youth Service have experienced family violence.
- Relationship violence: Nearly half have faced relationship violence.
We urgently need both immediate support and preventive strategies to break this cycle.
The need for a national plan:
Brisbane Youth Service is calling for a dedicated national plan to end youth homelessness – something Australia has never had. This plan must:
- include early intervention and prevention strategies
- provide targeted crisis support services
- offer clear pathways to transitional and permanent affordable housing for young people.
Currently, young people account for just 2.8% of social housing allocations. With the broader housing market already under strain, finding safe, stable housing is becoming increasingly challenging.
The need for immediate investment and policy change is clear. Young people deserve lasting, secure housing solutions – not temporary fixes.