Young people Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) supports come from diverse backgrounds with intersecting, wide-ranging life experiences, and face systemic barriers to addressing their basic needs.
The number one priority for young people is their housing situation, which is frequently unstable, unsuitable, unaffordable and/or unsafe.
Housing
In 2023-24, almost half of the young people who came to BYS were homeless (48%).This is about the same as last year, highlighting the ongoing impact of the housing and cost-of-living crises for young people in Brisbane. Young people are forced to couch surf, stay in motels, sleep in cars, or sleep rough when their rents increase or when private rental options are not affordable.
- 78% were living in unsafe, temporary, over-crowded or unaffordable housing.
- Almost 3 in 4 young people came to BYS asking for help with housing, highlighting the impact of the housing and cost-of-living crises for young people in Brisbane.
- 1 in 2 said their housing was a crisis/serious situation.
After support from BYS
- Overall rates of homelessness decreased by 82% after BYS support.
- Young people living in stable, suitable housing more than tripled, going from 24% to 79% after support.
- There was an 86% decrease in young people living in unsafe housing after support.
“They have provided me and helped me with a roof over me and my family’s head I couldn’t be happier“
– Young Person
Violence
Experience of family and relationship violence are common causes of homelessness for young people. However, violence does not necessarily end when young people leave the family home or an intimate relationship. Young people who are homeless are also often impacted by different ongoing forms of violence and abuse from people in their lives and the community.
In 2023-24, of the young people supported by BYS:
- 3 in 4 had previously experienced family violence
- Almost 1 in 2 had previously experienced intimate partner violence
- 1 in 3 had experienced physical assault/abuse
- 1 in 10 said they were currently experiencing intimate partner violence (likely to be under-reported)
- 1 in 4 told us that violence was a crisis or serious concern in their lives
After support from BYS
- While violence concerns are commonly under-recognised and under-reported at the start of support, this year more than half (58%) indicated that their violence situations were a bit or much better after coming to BYS.
- The proportion of young people who were in a crisis or serious violence situation dropped to just 6%.
“I am determined to be the best father I can be and to create a stable and loving environment for my daughter, breaking the cycle of violence and neglect that marked my own childhood.”
– Young Person
Mental Health
Mental health issues can impact young people’s access to safe, stable housing. Poor mental health can be one pathway into homelessness for young people and can be linked to other intersecting experiences like early trauma or family and intimate partner violence. It can also be the result of other stressors associated with homelessness including financial instability, physical health issues, community violence, and lack of support.
The proportion of young people who came to BYS with mental health diagnoses has remained high at 58%.
- In 2023-24, 1 in 3 young people we met identified suicide risks
- 1 in 5 identified self-harming behaviours
Without support, mental health issues can be a barrier to young people being able to access and maintain safe and stable housing in the future.
After support from BYS
- With BYS support, young people report positive changes in their mental health.
- In 2023-24, 3 in 5 young people said that their mental health improved after BYS support.
- Serious or crisis mental health issues decreased by 89%.
“The support I’ve received has helped me realise that I’m stronger than I thought. Life now is completely different.“
– Young Person
2023-24 Snapshot
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Who we support
