The Times Australia
The Times World News

.

Efforts to find safe housing for homeless youth have gone backwards. Here's what the new national plan must do differently

  • Written by David MacKenzie, Associate Professor, University of South Australia
Vertical bar chart showing breakdown of homelessness in Australia by age and category

What needs to change to greatly reduce youth homelessness in Australia? Now is the time to find answers to this question, and not just because it’s National Homelessness Week[1].

The federal government is developing a National Housing and Homelessness Plan[2] and says[3] public consultations will begin soon. In recent years, there have been two parliamentary inquiries into homelessness in Victoria[4] and across Australia[5]. Then came a Productivity Commission review[6] of the National Housing and Homelessness Agreement[7], which expired on June 30 this year.

More than a decade ago, the Rudd government made homelessness a national priority. A 2008 white paper, The Road Home[8], advanced three key strategies:

  1. “turning off the tap” – early intervention and prevention
  2. “improving and expanding services” – the existing service system
  3. “breaking the cycle” – supported housing to prevent homelessness reoccurring.

Yet today more people need help[9] because of homelessness than 15 years ago. The ambitious agenda of 2008 has not been fulfilled[10].

The forthcoming plan might just be a second chance for Australia to get it right.

Read more: Yes, we see you. Why a national plan for homelessness must make thousands of children on their own a priority[11]

Homelessness is more than ‘sleeping rough’

Homelessness conjures images of someone sleeping in a doorway, alley or city park. “Rough sleeping” is, after all, the visible homelessness that people see. But there are other forms of homelessness that are more hidden.

Some vocal advocates[12] seek to model the Australian homelessness response on that of the United States. In the US, nearly 600,000 people[13] are sleeping rough or in shelters. The rate of homelessness is at least ten times the rate in Australia[14].

A problem in the US is that homelessness is very narrowly defined. Fortunately, in Australia, homelessness has been understood and defined more broadly[15] as not having a secure and safe home. So the good news is the new homelessness plan is unlikely to make the mistake of adopting the narrow US focus on rough sleeping.

Vertical bar chart showing breakdown of homelessness in Australia by age and category
Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021, CC BY[16][17] Homelessness funding has largely gone into crisis management – that is, after people become homeless. An expanded role for “prevention” work coupled with supported housing options in each community would be a valuable strategic reform. The Productivity Commission review recommended “prevention and early intervention programs should be a higher priority under the next agreement”, backed by “a separate pool of funding”. The commission even suggested: The nearly $3 billion [annually] given to first home buyers works against improving affordability. This money would be better spent preventing homelessness. Too many young Australians who become homeless and disengage from education then experience long-term disadvantage. The cost to Australia of their lost opportunities amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars a year[18]. Read more: 6 steps towards remaking the homelessness system so it works for young people[19] We have examples of intervention that works There are promising early intervention models for at-risk young people that are ready to be scaled up. Examples include the COSS Model[20], Kids Under Cover[21], Ruby’s Reunification[22] and Home Stretch[23] programs. If implemented adequately, programs like these would greatly reduce the flow of young people into homelessness. Housing affordability in Australia has worsened over a long time. For people whose homelessness cannot be averted, the immediate need is access to a crisis service, rapid rehousing and then supported housing options. The Albanese government’s A$10 billion Housing Australia Future Fund[24] could begin to turn the housing crisis around, but it would be only a beginning. All sides of politics need to get behind greater investment in high-quality social housing, shared equity[25] home purchase programs (the government or another investor covers some of the purchase price in return for a share of equity in the home) and increased Commonwealth Rental Assistance[26]. Government subsidies[27] for the private housing sector, such as negative gearing, also need to be reviewed[28]. Read more: To deliver enough affordable housing and end homelessness, what must a national strategy do?[29] Homeless young people have little chance of getting into mainstream social housing when they most need supported housing to get their lives back on track. The social housing business model is not set up to provide supported housing for adolescents and young adults. One notable innovation is the world’s first model of social housing for youth developed by My Foundations Youth Housing[30]. It provides up to five years’ supported residency with rents scaling up annually. Most residents move on to other accommodation when ready to do so. Read more: Homeless numbers set to rise again, but inquiry can be a turning point if we get smarter about housing people[31] Get the plan right and it can be a game-changer Expanding the social housing options for young people would have a significant impact. Should the Senate finally pass[32] the Housing Australia Future Fund legislation, young people (15-24 years) could be guaranteed a specific share of that funding, as has been done for women escaping domestic violence and older women at risk of homelessness. This funding would go into expanding social housing for young people. A key structural reform would be to reorganise support services for at-risk and homeless young Australians on a community-by-community basis. What’s needed is a rigorous approach to needs-based funding for both early intervention and post-homelessness support and supported housing. Will the National Housing and Homelessness Plan be a game-changer for vulnerable young Australians? Well, that remains to be seen. We hope Australia can avoid a rerun of what happened after the 2008 white paper. References^ National Homelessness Week (homelessnessaustralia.org.au)^ National Housing and Homelessness Plan (www.dss.gov.au)^ says (ministers.dss.gov.au)^ in Victoria (new.parliament.vic.gov.au)^ across Australia (www.aph.gov.au)^ review (www.pc.gov.au)^ National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (www.dss.gov.au)^ The Road Home (apo.org.au)^ more people need help (www.abs.gov.au)^ not been fulfilled (apo.org.au)^ Yes, we see you. Why a national plan for homelessness must make thousands of children on their own a priority (theconversation.com)^ Some vocal advocates (aaeh.org.au)^ nearly 600,000 people (www.huduser.gov)^ rate in Australia (www.abs.gov.au)^ defined more broadly (www.abs.gov.au)^ Source: ABS Census of Population and Housing 2021 (www.abs.gov.au)^ CC BY (creativecommons.org)^ hundreds of millions of dollars a year (www.vu.edu.au)^ 6 steps towards remaking the homelessness system so it works for young people (theconversation.com)^ COSS Model (upstreamaustralia.org.au)^ Kids Under Cover (www.kuc.org.au)^ Ruby’s Reunification (www.unitingcommunities.org)^ Home Stretch (thehomestretch.org.au)^ Housing Australia Future Fund (ministers.dss.gov.au)^ shared equity (www.ahuri.edu.au)^ Commonwealth Rental Assistance (www.dss.gov.au)^ subsidies (www.theguardian.com)^ need to be reviewed (theconversation.com)^ To deliver enough affordable housing and end homelessness, what must a national strategy do? (theconversation.com)^ My Foundations Youth Housing (mfyh.org.au)^ Homeless numbers set to rise again, but inquiry can be a turning point if we get smarter about housing people (theconversation.com)^ finally pass (www.sbs.com.au)

Read more https://theconversation.com/efforts-to-find-safe-housing-for-homeless-youth-have-gone-backwards-heres-what-the-new-national-plan-must-do-differently-210704

Times Magazine

Building an AI-First Culture in Your Company

AI isn't just something to think about anymore - it's becoming part of how we live and work, whether we like it or not. At the office, it definitely helps us move faster. But here's the thing: just using tools like ChatGPT or plugging AI into your wo...

Data Management Isn't Just About Tech—Here’s Why It’s a Human Problem Too

Photo by Kevin Kuby Manuel O. Diaz Jr.We live in a world drowning in data. Every click, swipe, medical scan, and financial transaction generates information, so much that managing it all has become one of the biggest challenges of our digital age. Bu...

Headless CMS in Digital Twins and 3D Product Experiences

Image by freepik As the metaverse becomes more advanced and accessible, it's clear that multiple sectors will use digital twins and 3D product experiences to visualize, connect, and streamline efforts better. A digital twin is a virtual replica of ...

The Decline of Hyper-Casual: How Mid-Core Mobile Games Took Over in 2025

In recent years, the mobile gaming landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with mid-core mobile games emerging as the dominant force in app stores by 2025. This shift is underpinned by changing user habits and evolving monetization tr...

Understanding ITIL 4 and PRINCE2 Project Management Synergy

Key Highlights ITIL 4 focuses on IT service management, emphasising continual improvement and value creation through modern digital transformation approaches. PRINCE2 project management supports systematic planning and execution of projects wit...

What AI Adoption Means for the Future of Workplace Risk Management

Image by freepik As industrial operations become more complex and fast-paced, the risks faced by workers and employers alike continue to grow. Traditional safety models—reliant on manual oversight, reactive investigations, and standardised checklist...

The Times Features

Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light

Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis[1] of eight years of data from the New Zeal...

Going Off the Beaten Path? Here's How to Power Up Without the Grid

There’s something incredibly freeing about heading off the beaten path. No traffic, no crowded campsites, no glowing screens in every direction — just you, the landscape, and the...

West HQ is bringing in a season of culinary celebration this July

Western Sydney’s leading entertainment and lifestyle precinct is bringing the fire this July and not just in the kitchen. From $29 lobster feasts and award-winning Asian banque...

What Endo Took and What It Gave Me

From pain to purpose: how one woman turned endometriosis into a movement After years of misdiagnosis, hormone chaos, and major surgery, Jo Barry was done being dismissed. What beg...

Why Parents Must Break the Silence on Money and Start Teaching Financial Skills at Home

Australia’s financial literacy rates are in decline, and our kids are paying the price. Certified Money Coach and Financial Educator Sandra McGuire, who has over 20 years’ exp...

Australia’s Grill’d Transforms Operations with Qlik

Boosting Burgers and Business Clean, connected data powers real-time insights, smarter staffing, and standout customer experiences Sydney, Australia, 14 July 2025 – Qlik®, a g...