From crisis to care: Tackling youth homelessness

CEO Judy Barraclough shares how systemic failures leave young people like Layla vulnerable to homelessness and how Youth Off The Streets is providing crucial support.
Male youth worker welcoming a teenage girl to a refuge

Almost a quarter of Australia’s homeless population is aged between 12 and 24. 

Last year, nearly 40,000 children and young people found themselves without a safe place to call home. Often overlooked in a system built for adults, these young people face immense challenges – and far too many are forced to face these challenges on their own. 

Their experiences, like those of Layla*, a young person supported by Youth Off The Streets, highlight the pressing need for a more responsive and supportive housing system that meets the unique needs of young people aged under 18.  

Layla’s journey through homelessness is a reminder of how precarious life can be without support. 

When she was just 15, Layla and her younger siblings were abandoned by their parents. With no one to turn to, she had no choice but to leave school and take care of her family. 

“I had to get a job to pay rent and feed my siblings because no one else could,” Layla recalls. She carried a weight of responsibility beyond her years, and the housing system did little to accommodate her circumstances or needs.  

Navigating the housing system is especially tough for young people like Layla. They often go from one temporary solution to another, struggling to find stability. 

Layla’s story of being repeatedly evicted, despite her efforts to find stable housing, shows the systemic failures that trap young people in a cycle of crisis. 

“Eventually, I couldn’t keep up with the payments and we were evicted again,” she shares.  

The instability and constant upheaval took a severe toll on her mental health, leading to feelings of hopelessness and suicidal thoughts. 

The housing system’s complexity and rigidity often leave young people without the support they desperately need. The lack of tailored support services meant that Layla and her siblings were left to fend for themselves. 

This is where organisations like Youth Off The Streets step in and provide a lifeline to young people. When Layla connected with our staff, her life took a turn for the better.  

“When Youth Off The Streets came into the picture, my entire world changed,” she says. 

Our services provided not just immediate relief but also long-term support, helping Layla secure affordable housing and essential household items. She could focus on building a better future for herself and her siblings. 

The impact of specialised, youth-focussed interventions cannot be overstated. Without assistance from Youth Off The Streets, Layla’s story might have had a very different ending.  

This National Homelessness Week, we are holding our first-ever Giving Day to ensure more children and young people facing homelessness receive support.  

For 12 hours on Thursday 8 August, every donation we receive will be matched – doubling the impact on the lives of at-risk young Australians. 

This campaign, called ‘From Crisis 2 Care’, emphasises the critical nature of timely support.  

Every minute counts when a young person is forced into homelessness.  

Without guidance and support, these vulnerable young people can rapidly fall through the gaps and deeper into crisis. But if they receive specialist support early on, we can reduce the risk of further harm and dramatically improve their safety and wellbeing in the long term. 

Visit www.charidy.com/yots to donate and be a part of the solution in the ongoing fight against youth homelessness.  

Thank you for standing with us and showing vulnerable young people that you’re in their corner. 

Judy Barraclough is the CEO of Youth Off The Streets.  

*Name and some personal details have been changed to protect the young person’s identity. 

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