Today, Wednesday 15 April, is Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD). It is an important national advocacy day because housing insecurity is not just an adult issue. Young people face unique and frightening challenges when they do not have a safe place to sleep.
Social Futures believes in building inclusive, supportive communities where every young person has the opportunity to thrive. For this to become reality, we need to ensure that our most vulnerable community members are supported, and YHMD is a day when we can advocate for change to see that this happens.
Youth homelessness is often unseen because so many young people experiencing homelessness don’t necessarily sleep rough on the streets. Instead, they rely on couch surfing, staying temporarily with friends or extended family and moving from place to place. Sometimes, they don’t even consider themselves to be homeless.
However, couch surfing leaves young people incredibly vulnerable. Without a stable home base, it becomes really difficult to maintain employment, attend school, or manage physical and mental health.
The statistics from the YHMD website highlight just how big a problem this is in Australia. Last year alone, 42,763 children and young people under the age of 25 presented on their own to specialist homelessness services across Australia.
There is also immense strain on our support systems. Nationally, half of the young people who tried to secure a bed in a crisis refuge were turned away simply because services lacked the resources to accommodate them. (And that is only in those places where there actually IS a crisis centre to go to). Frontline workers face the heartbreaking reality of telling vulnerable young people that there is no space available. This is a systemic failure that we urgently need to address.
What would you do if you were a young mum, you were alone, and you were staring into the face of homelessness?
This is the frightening scenario Amy-Rose found herself navigating. Often, young people face housing crises through no fault of their own. Family breakdown, domestic violence, and a severely unaffordable rental market push thousands of young Australians into impossible situations.
Stories like Amy-Rose’s highlight the impact of the housing crisis and are unfortunately common. Social Futures is launching a video clip this Youth Homelessness Matters Day sharing Amy-Rose’s journey – we invite you to watch and share her story. By listening to the lived experiences of young people, we can better understand the urgent need for change.
Social Futures firmly believes that no young person should be without a place to call home. We are throwing our support behind two critical campaigns and urge our community to join the call also.
This Youth Homelessness Matters Day, we need every politician across Australia to think about the 40,000-plus children and young people who are alone with nowhere to live. With the current cost of living, zero percent of private rentals are affordable to anyone relying on a youth allowance.
In the lead-up to the 2026 Federal Budget, Social Futures strongly supports the proposal to introduce a Youth Housing Supplement. This vital financial support will ensure children and young people are no longer locked out of social housing and the private rental market.
Martelle Geurts, Social Futures General Manager Housing and Homelessness, emphasises the urgency of this intervention.
“We cannot look away while tens of thousands of children and young people navigate the trauma of homelessness alone,” Geurts says.
“Introducing a Youth Housing Supplement in the 2026 Federal Budget is a critical, common-sense step to ensure young Australians are no longer locked out of safe, secure housing.
It is an essential investment in their future and the overall wellbeing of our community.”
Alongside the push for the Youth Housing Supplement, Social Futures has joined a national call to put children and young people first in our broader housing and homelessness plans. We are proud supporters of the HomeTime Campaign.
The HomeTime Action Plan provides a clear, practical roadmap to end youth homelessness. The campaign calls for three critical actions:
Housing alone is only part of the solution. Young people have vastly different needs compared to adults. They require wrap-around support services to help them transition into independent living successfully.
“The HomeTime Campaign provides a clear, actionable roadmap to address this crisis,” Geurts explains.
“By committing to 15,000 dedicated youth tenancies and linking them with wrap-around support services, we empower young people to pursue their goals for independence and opportunity.
Every young person deserves a safe place to call home, and it is entirely within our power as a society to provide that.”
Providing a roof over a young person’s head is just the beginning. To truly break the cycle of homelessness, we must invest heavily in early intervention and prevention services.
When a young person enters a tenancy, they often need help learning how to manage a household, budget their finances, and navigate the complex adult world. Linked support services provide a safety net. They ensure that young people have access to mental health care, education pathways, and employment training.
Funding to provide these wrap-around services must increase in line with inflation and the spiralling costs of service provision. When we fund these services properly, we do more than just manage homelessness; we actively prevent it. We help young people build the foundation they need to lead fulfilling, independent lives.
You are the most influential voice to your friends, family, and neighbours and your words hold power – so talk to those you know about youth homelessness.
Educate
Take the time to learn about the realities of youth homelessness. Watch Amy-Rose’s video and share it with your network. Start conversations with your friends and family about why ending child and youth homelessness matters to you.
Activate
Get involved in your local community. Attend YHMD events, participate in discussions, and show your visible support for vulnerable young people. Community connection is a powerful tool for driving social change.
Donate
The youth homelessness sector is severely underfunded. You can make a direct impact by donating to your local or preferred youth service. Every contribution helps frontline workers provide essential care, crisis accommodation, and long-term support to young people in need. You can find out more about donating at yhmd.org.au and you can donate to Social Futures Connecting Home Youth Program here: https://www.yfoundations.org.au/charities/social-futures/?doneeOrganisation=Social-Futures
Advocate
We need you to use your voice. Please take a minute right now to send a message to the Treasurer and your local Members of Parliament. Ask them to support children and young people with nowhere to live by backing the Youth Housing Supplement and the HomeTime Action Plan.
Join the campaign and take action today: https://www.hometime.org.au/takeaction
We can end youth homelessness and make sure every young Australian has a safe place to call home.
