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YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

2001 Census Reveals Need for Urgent Reforms

15 July 2002

The results of a youth homeless census conducted in August 2001 among 1,930 schools and Supported Assistance Accommodation Program (SAAP) services across Australia shows that 8.4% more youth aged 12-18 are homeless today than 7 years ago when the last youth census was conducted.

The report, prepared by Chris Chamberlain and David MacKenzie of RMIT University, will be launched on Tuesday 16 July 2002 in Melbourne.

The report shows that 26,060 youth aged 12-18 are homeless.

The rate of youth homelessness varies greatly between states. 

• NSW and Victoria have a rate of 10 homeless per 1000 youths

• ACT - 12.5 homeless per 1000

• Queensland - 18 homeless per 1000

• South Australia - 17 homeless per 1000

• Western Australia - 18 homeless per 1000

• Tasmania - 21 homeless per 1000

• Northern Territory - 69 homeless per 1000

The average for Australia is 14 homeless per 1000 youths.

Obviously there is much to learn by comparing the differences in the state programs and their effectiveness. For example, nationally 55 percent of homeless youths are girls and only 41 percent, or 12,227 youths, remain within the education system.

Percentage of homeless youths remaining in school by state:

• ACT - 58% 

• Victoria - 51% 

• Tasmania - 50% 

• NSW - 42% 

• South Australia - 40% 

• Queensland - 39% 

• Northern Territory - 36%

• Western Australia - 27%

When homeless youth drop out of the education system, many become long-term unemployed, which too often entrenches them in long-term homelessness.

Salvation Army Recommendations:

• The Salvation Army housed more than 1500 homeless youth last year and is very concerned that the lessons that we learn from this report are acted on urgently. If not, we will continue to see the social cost to families and young people increase. The health, justice and social welfare systems will also become increasingly expensive, as they are forced to deal with the consequences of increased youth homelessness.

• The report emphasises the value of schools as significant sites for early intervention into youth homelessness and other life issues for young people. We must ensure that community youth support workers are integrated into pastoral care and student welfare programs.

• Both schools and community-based youth agencies need access to timely and appropriate specialist support for young people who have a mental illness, drug or alcohol issues, or have been physically or sexually abused.

• All young people and their families should have access to a system of career and transitional supports, through and beyond school.

• Resources need to be allocated to provide 'student only' housing for those young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

• Many young people struggle to remain in school systems that seem unable to respond to the complex needs of such 'at risk' young people. The Salvation Army calls upon Commonwealth and State education departments to respond to the needs of these young people and provide additional resources for alternative community-based learning models.

• Young people who are, or have been, in the care of the state are over-represented amongst young people who are chronically homeless. Governments and non- government organisations need to develop effective programs to care for these marginalised young people.

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To download a copy of the report:

Click on the link below to download The Salvation Army summary of, and response to, this report: The Salvation Army Response to Chamberlain and MacKenzie's Youth Homelessness Census 2001 PDF file, 102 kb	NOTE: This is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file - if you do not have Acrobat Reader, click here and download it free.
The complete RMIT report by Chamberlain and MacKenzie is available by clicking here. PDF file, 256 kb

For more information, please contact:

John Dalziel, Communications Director
The Salvation Army
Phone: (03) 9896 6007
Mobile: 0417 537 950
Email:

Captain David Eldridge
The Salvation Army
Former chair of the Prime Minister's Taskforce on Youth Homelessness
Mobile: 0417 397 241 

David MacKenzie, Director
Centre for Youth Affairs Research & Development
RMIT 
Phone: (03) 9386 2909
Mobile: 0412 104 873

Chris Chamberlain, Associate Professor
Housing & Urban Research
RMIT
Phone: ( 03) 9925 2956
Mobile: 0412 104 865