42,000 Young People Seek Homelessness Services
Australia’s youth homelessness crisis is escalating, with over 42,763 young people under 25 seeking help from specialist homelessness services in 2024-25, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
Young people aged 10-24 now constitute 25% of the homeless population. Alarmingly, half of those seeking crisis refuge beds were turned away due to insufficient funding, leaving them vulnerable to dangerous situations.
Domestic and family violence, housing crises, and relationship breakdowns are the primary reasons young people seek assistance. Over a third of those aged 15-24 reported experiencing domestic violence, with frontline workers indicating even higher rates.
John Macmillan, CEO of Yfoundations, stated, “Governments and the community need to recognise we all need to band together to solve the issue. It’s time to plan for and adequately fund solutions to end youth homelessness.”
Call for Government Action
Approximately one-third of those seeking help identified as Indigenous, and nearly half had mental health concerns. Most of these young clients resort to couch surfing, increasing their risk of exploitation and abuse.
Kate Mills, CEO of the Property Industry Foundation, highlighted the collaboration between the property and media sectors to raise awareness and address the issue of over 40,000 young people without shelter despite 13 million empty bedrooms in the country.
Youth Homelessness Matters Day on April 15 aims to raise awareness and calls for urgent action from national and state governments. The day encourages educating, activating, donating, and advocating to end youth homelessness.
Natasha Ransford, a YHRC council member with lived experience, shared, “At 16, I was in a refuge. My youth workers were the positive influence that I needed. Having that guidance prompted me to become a youth worker myself.”
The call for action urges governments to make ending youth homelessness a national priority by adequately funding necessary services and introducing a Youth Housing Supplement.
In 2024-25, over one-third of young people presenting alone to Specialist Homelessness Services identified as Indigenous, highlighting the disproportionate impact on Indigenous communities.
Frontline workers report that domestic and family violence rates are seen in over 90% of cases, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
The collaboration between Yfoundations, the Property Industry Foundation, and UnLtd exemplifies the need for cross-sector partnerships to drive impactful change.
Last updated: 10 April 2026, 7:34 pm
