Youth Homelessness: An Australian Crisis

According to the article, homelessness among young people aged 15-24 is a growing crisis in Australia, with 38,631 individuals in that age group seeking homelessness services without family support or stable housing in 2023-24. The article attributes this rise to a confluence of factors rooted in broader societal issues. The article highlights the critical role of housing affordability, with soaring rents and a lack of social housing pushing vulnerable young people into homelessness. It also points to the impact of family breakdown, often linked to economic hardship and domestic violence, as a significant driver of youth homelessness. Government policies, particularly inadequate social security payments and insufficient funding for youth services, are also blamed for exacerbating the problem. The article claims that government responses have been largely inadequate, focusing on short-term crisis management rather than addressing the underlying structural causes of homelessness. It also criticizes the lack of preventative measures and early intervention programs to support at-risk young people before they become homeless. The consequences of youth homelessness are devastating, including increased risk of mental health problems, substance abuse, involvement in crime, and long-term social exclusion. The article emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive and systemic solutions, including increased investment in affordable housing, improved social security, and better support services to prevent and address youth homelessness effectively. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/04/02/mxax-a02.html