Australia Faces Alarming Rise in Youth Homelessness, Leaving Children Vulnerable
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A growing crisis of youth homelessness is unfolding across Australia, with Western Australia (WA) emerging as a particularly acute hotspot. The situation, described as almost incomprehensible in a developed nation, leaves vulnerable children struggling to maintain stability in education and daily life, even as they prepare for the transition to high school.
Caitlan’s story exemplifies this heartbreaking trend. Now 18 years old, she recalls a time when, at just 11, she experienced the trauma of losing her home. “After losing my home, school was something that was like a stable place for me and a constant,” she shared. “That was really all I had.” However, even that sanctuary was compromised by the pervasive stress of lacking basic necessities.
Child Poverty and Lack of Support in Western Australia
The crisis is fueled by a dramatic increase in child poverty in WA, which has doubled in the last decade. This surge in need is colliding with a critical shortage of crisis accommodation, prompting experts to urgently call on the government to increase support. According to one young person impacted, “I would beg to sleep on friends’ couches and try to keep myself invisible and not draw any attention to myself. I was ashamed.” The fear of exposure and the lack of safe options created a cycle of isolation and vulnerability.
Even within the relative safety of school, many young people feel unable to disclose their circumstances. “Even there [school] as my only place of stability and the only place where I felt like I was safe or I belonged … I still didn’t feel safe to tell anybody what was happening to me,” Caitlan explained.
National Statistics Paint a Grim Picture
The scale of the problem extends beyond WA. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare projects that, on any given day in 2025, approximately 11,900 unaccompanied children and young people aged 12-24 will require assistance from specialist homelessness services across Australia. WA currently bears the heaviest burden, turning away more individuals than any other state. Currently, 830 children and young people in WA receive support daily, representing a 17% increase year-over-year. On average, 96 requests for assistance go unmet each day in WA alone.
The consequences of homelessness extend far beyond shelter. Research in Western Australia demonstrates a strong correlation between unstable housing and poor health outcomes, with individuals experiencing homelessness facing a life expectancy more than 30 years shorter than the general population.
Calls for Increased Investment
Caitlan, now a member of WA’s Youth Homelessness Advisory Council, is acutely aware of the widespread suffering. Having experienced four years of homelessness in Melbourne, including three years out of school, she recognizes the urgent need for systemic change. “I was very lucky that I was able to get support and stable housing [with family in WA],” she said. “There are still so many young people out there experiencing what I had to experience … and there isn’t that support accessible to them.”
A coalition of peak bodies, frontline services, and young people is advocating for a $150 million investment in youth homelessness initiatives in the upcoming WA state budget. Kylie Wallace, CEO of the Youth Affairs Council of WA, emphasized the severity of the situation. “We shouldn’t have a huge hidden population of hundreds of school students experiencing rough sleeping and homelessness in the wealthiest state in Australia,” she stated. “For every crisis bed that becomes available each night [in Perth], 69 children and young people are competing for that one bed.” She underscored that housing stability is fundamental to education, wellbeing, and future opportunities.
While acknowledging recent government funding increases for homelessness services, including investments in social housing, Wallace argues that targeted support for children and young people remains insufficient. “Commitments made in the next state budget could solve it,” she asserted.
Government Response and Future Plans
WA’s Minister for Homelessness, Matthew Swinbourn, maintains that the state government is deeply committed to addressing the issue. “We don’t accept young people not being able to get a home or to be facing homelessness,” he said. He announced that the government is finalizing a five-year action plan within its existing 10-year homelessness strategy. Swinbourn believes that providing support to young people experiencing homelessness can prevent long-term housing instability.
Both government officials and sector experts agree on the importance of early intervention. As Wallace cautioned, “If we don’t do this, WA’s youth homelessness crisis will deepen.” The challenge now lies in translating commitment into concrete action and ensuring that vulnerable young Australians have access to the support they desperately need.
