With thousands of young people unable to find stable homes, youth homelessness in Australia has become a national epidemic. Twenty major areas where the problem is most severe have been identified by recent investigation, underscoring the pressing need for action.
38,600 young people between the ages of 16 and 24 needed assistance from homelessness services in 2023–2024, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. High rates of domestic violence, a lack of cheap housing, and growing living expenses are the main causes of the crisis, according to experts. Although there are emergency assistance services available, proponents caution that long-term fixes are still lacking.
The Most Affected Areas in Australia
A new report from the Foyer Foundation, a housing support organisation, has identified the Latrobe-Gippsland region in Victoria as the worst-affected area, with over 1,000 young people experiencing homelessness. The Northern Territory outback, New England and North West NSW, Illawarra, and Western Australia outback (north) follow closely behind.
The study took into account a variety of important variables, such as the number of homeless youth in each area, high school graduation rates, and youth unemployment rates. The results show that homelessness is pervasive in metropolitan, rural, and regional areas and is not limited to large cities.
Corin Moffatt, co-CEO of the Foyer Foundation, described the results as an alarming reflection of the challenges young Australians face. “We see a mix of regional centres, some more remote communities, and some inner metropolitan areas … so I think what it shows is that the problem is very widespread and young people across the country are facing these challenges.” she said.
The Causes and Consequences of Youth Homelessness
The crisis is driven by several overlapping factors, including the soaring cost of living, housing shortages, and domestic violence. David MacKenzie, an associate professor at the University of South Australia, warns that without intervention, the problem will persist. “If we don’t act to prevent it and to reduce the flow of people and young people in particular into homelessness, then the problem continues,” he said.
For many, homelessness begins with family breakdowns or financial instability, making it nearly impossible to stay in school or secure stable employment. Tyrah Chan-Hampton, a young Wiradjuri woman who experienced homelessness, recalled the deep stigma surrounding the issue. “People are staying in unsafe environments just because they have absolutely nowhere to go,” she said.
While crisis services provide immediate support, many experts argue that medium and long-term solutions are severely lacking. The Foyer Foundation has urged the government to invest in more youth foyers—transitional housing services that offer accommodation, education, and employment pathways.
