Jun 3, 2024 | Youth homelessness
Michelle Ackerman has worked across the youth, community and housing sectors for more than two decades. She joined Youth Off The Streets in 2021, initially focusing on youth justice and youth engagement programs. Today, she oversees our homelessness and other services...
May 14, 2024 | Domestic and family violence, Team Streets
For many young people, violence at home feels normal until one day it becomes a crisis, and they have no choice but to flee for their own safety – often taking very few belongings with them. “Many people think homelessness is that you just don’t have a home,” says...
Apr 10, 2024 | Impact stories, Youth homelessness
At 17, Alex* became homeless after fleeing family violence. “All I had on me was my phone and charger,” he recalls. “At first, I slept on the couch at a friend’s house. “When I couldn’t stay any longer, I went to a youth service in the inner city and was helped by the...
Jan 8, 2024 | Youth homelessness
Every week, young people in crisis seek support from the Inner West Youth Homelessness Service (IWYHS) in Sydney. IWYHS, a partnership between Youth Off The Streets, Wesley Mission and YWCA NSW, offers crisis accommodation for those who cannot live at home. “We see...
Apr 17, 2023 | Education, Independent high schools
It was early on a school day. Jay was leaving his family home for the last time. With his belongings packed and waiting for him at school – having been relocated in secret over the previous weeks – Jay could finally close the door on a childhood marred by domestic and...
