Staying home A Youth Survey report on young people’s experience of homelessness We would like to acknowledge the Mission Australia A note on COVID-19. This research was conducted staff who contributed to this report by providing before the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. helpful insights, clarity and examples of current Mission Australia would like to recognise the challenges faced by young people during this and past programs that support young people, time, especially those who may be experiencing especially Aileen Lacey, Caroline Hanna, Jeanette homelessness. It is important to note that the Milevski, Jesse Taylor, Jodie Abrahamson, Jurek pandemic and its effects are likely to be long lasting Stopczynski, Linda Richardson, Ludmila Klianev, and may result in increased levels of disadvantage Mario Peters, Mark Jentz, Nicole Scarman, and economic hardship for many young people in Phil Flint, Rachelle Elphick, Robyn Fernihough, Australia, as well an increased need for services. Robyn Johnson and Shiva Panchalingam. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of lands A special thanks to the organisations that throughout Australia and we pay our respects to the provided valuable input and support, especially Elders past, present and future for they hold the YFoundations and Homelessness NSW. Their memories, culture and dreams of the Aboriginal and insight serves to remind us that behind the data, Torres Strait Islander people. We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and continual relationship figures and words are young people, with their own with the land and we recognise the importance of the families, experiences, culture and backgrounds. young people who are the future leaders. ISBN: 978-1-875357-05-5 © Mission Australia 2020 This report may be cited as: Hall, S., Fildes, J., Liyanarachchi, D., Hicking, V., Plummer, J. and E. Tiller (2020) Staying home: A Youth Survey report on young people’s experience of homelessness. Mission Australia: Sydney, NSW. Staying home: A Youth Survey report on young people’s experience of homelessness 2 CEO Message Many people would be shocked to learn that one in This cannot be accepted as just the way things are. six young people aged 15 – 19 years in Australia We can and must take action to make real and lasting have been homeless at some stage in their lives. change and commit to ending youth homelessness in our country. This report not only shines a spotlight on the magnitude of child and youth homelessness here in If we stand idle, too many young people will continue Australia, but also gives us a clearer understanding to be pushed into homelessness and will be on the of how the experience of homelessness unfairly chips back foot as they transition to adulthood. Many away at these young people’s lives, their wellbeing will miss out on crucial education and employment and their futures. opportunities as they shift from one inadequate and temporary dwelling to another. Without the stability By looking at how their experiences are different of a safe place to call home, these young people are to those young people who haven’t faced facing the torment of bullying, mental health concerns homelessness, we are able to identify the solutions and ongoing family conflict. that are desperately needed to end child and youth homelessness. Ultimately, early intervention is key and we urge governments to do everything it takes so that young Through our Youth Survey 2019, young people people can avoid homelessness, or move quickly who have been homeless told us they’re facing a out of homelessness if it does occur, so they are great deal of stress and mental health concerns. adequately supported to reach their full potential They’re experiencing dangerous levels of bullying, now, and into their futures. lower levels of happiness, and they’re facing seemingly insurmountable barriers as they move I encourage you to read our report, absorb the into their adult lives. stories of strength and resilience showed by these young people and engage with these solutions that Sadly, for Mission Australia staff and others in will ultimately end youth homelessness. the sector who work closely with young people, these concerns and experiences are not a surprise. James Toomey CEO, Mission Australia Staying home: A Youth Survey report on young people’s experience of homelessness 3 Executive summary This report provides unique insight into the The findings show that young people who have experiences of young people who have an experienced homelessness are more likely than experience of homelessness through drawing upon their peers to report: Mission Australia’s 18th annual survey of young people aged 15 to 19 years, Youth Survey 2019. Importantly, this report furthers our understanding • lower aspirations for studying; of the causes, patterns, system responses, and policy context of youth and family homelessness. • significant personal concerns about family We use quantitative and qualitative findings conflict, mental health and suicide; throughout this report to highlight these issues. • more experiences of being bullied; Homelessness can be an isolating, destabilising and • their family’s ability to get along as poor; often traumatic experience. For children and young people, homelessness can be particularly devastating • lower levels of happiness; to their development and its effects are often long- • increased levels of psychological distress; and lasting. Stable, affordable and suitable housing is essential for a young person’s economic, mental, • less positive feelings about their future. physical and social wellbeing. It is also connected to a positive sense of self, good health, social cohesion and 1 educational completion. Whether these factors have caused, or are the result The findings presented in this report deepen our of, their homelessness, it is clear that these young understanding of the issues faced by young people people have a range of experiences that place them who have experienced homelessness and how these at a significant disadvantage to their peers who have compare to the issues faced by young people who not experienced homelessness. Intervening early to haven’t experienced homelessness. However, it support young people to avoid homelessness where is important to recognise that homelessness is a possible and move quickly out of homelessness where complex problem and that some young people may it does occur, will have far-reaching impacts on their cycle in and out of homelessness or transition through current experience and their future. different forms of homelessness over any given time There is a clear opportunity for early intervention period and their experience of homelessness may not to stem the tide of youth homelessness through be captured in the Youth Survey. The purpose of this changing the systems, policies and practices that report is to bring young people’s stories to light, with impact on young people and their families. the findings highlighting important implications for both policy and practice. 1 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2020 Staying home: A Youth Survey report on young people’s experience of homelessness 4 Key findings: Among 22,673 Youth Survey 2019 respondents, • We recognise that overcrowding is an issue for more than one in six young people (17.1%) young people. While the Youth Survey does not reported having an experience of some type of measure overcrowding as such, we note that young homelessness. Of those, 13.8% of young people people who have experienced homelessness are were categorised as having experienced youth much more likely to report inadequacy in terms of homelessness and 5.6% as having experienced number of bedrooms. family homelessness. Aspirations for study and work A concerning proportion of Youth Survey 2019 respondents have experienced either time without • Full-time study participation rates were lower a fixed address or lived in a refuge or transitional among young people who have experienced accommodation (6.6%) and/or time spent couch homelessness (87.1% compared with 95.0% surfing (13.0%). In many cases this experience of of young people who have never experienced homelessness was not an isolated one-off incident, homelessness). with the majority of couch surfers reporting they have spent time away from home more than once, • Young people with a history of homelessness are and a small but important minority (5.8%) suggesting more likely to report not studying at all (7.2% they typically stay away for longer than 6 months. compared with 3.1% of young people who have never experienced homelessness). Living arrangements • Young people who have experienced homelessness • A higher percentage of young people who have reported much lower levels of study satisfaction experienced homelessness indicated that they than respondents who have never experienced lived somewhere other than with their parent/s homelessness (53.7% were either very satisfied in the past three months (15.6% compared with or satisfied compared with 71.4%). 2.9% of young people who have never experienced homelessness). • Young people who have experienced homelessness were almost three times more likely than those • Young people who have experienced homelessness who have never experienced homelessness to and had not lived with parent/s over the last say they were not intending to complete three months were most likely to have lived with Year 12 (8.2% compared with 3.0%). A much non-related persons (36.0%), followed by friends smaller proportion of