Desperate plea after jump in youth homelessness in Qld

A jump in the number of young Queenslanders at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness has seen a desperate call for action.

Data suggests a jump in youth homelessness in Queensland. Picture: Istock.

Almost 10,000 extra requests for help were made from young people aged 12-25 at risk or experiencing homelessness in Queensland in the past year.

New data from Brisbane Youth Service showed there were 68,310 support occasions in the last financial year compared to 58,664 the year before.

Approximately half of the young people Brisbane Youth Service support were homeless, with 77 per cent in unsafe, overcrowded, or unaffordable housing.

The rise in youth presenting to homeless support services has prompted a group of advocates to band together to call for an end to homelessness for young people ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Games.

PeakCare, Q Shelter, Open Doors, Brisbane Youth Service, Footprints, YFS and Mission Australia have called on all political parties to prioritise system and service integration to prevent young people from exiting care into homelessness.

The group was calling for a ‘Housing first’ strategy with targeted investments in safe and secure social housing for young people between 12-24 years of age.

Chief executive officer at Brisbane Youth Service Pam Barker. Picture: John Gass

BYS chief executive Pam Barker said it was about early intervention and prevention.

“So we want to decrease the numbers of young people coming in the system, and we want the government to commit to an allocation of housing for young people so we can deal with the current situation now and then we can decrease the numbers of young people who are coming through the system,” Ms Barker said.

“Young people are still presenting at a horrific rate, and there is no early intervention or prevention programs currently

“We’re seeing that in the data, because the numbers of young people presenting homelessness is not decreasing.

Data also showed over four years, homelessness in Queensland rose by 22 per cent.

The groups have called for the government to develop a policy for housing unaccompanied 12-15 year-olds, fund additional therapeutic housing models and set targets to deliver social and affordable housing.

“The current homelessness policy states the only way we can house this cohort is in emergency or on behalf of child protection,” she said.

“Due to that, we still support by having youth workers and caseworkers, but we don’t have any funded models that are designed to either provide respite or work with families.”

They are also calling for funding and support to crisis accommodation that is queer lead and peer supported.

Fiona Caniglia from QShelter. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Glenn Campbell

QShelter chief executive Fiona Caniglia said their members reported a surge in demand from young people and children seeking assistance.

“The whole message here is prevention and early intervention rather than over investment in crisis responses that don’t really make things a whole lot better,” she said.

“They’re very expensive, and it’s just managing the crisis rather than ending the problem.

Research from the University of Queensland showed the cost of homelessness on additional services such as health, child protection and justice as opposed to housing young people is represented by over $13,000 per young person per year saving to the community

UQ Social Science Professor Cameron Parsell said when people were homeless in Queensland it doesn’t save money.

“We spend an awful lot of money responding to people homeless, and we respond to them because of their homelessness,” he said.

“And what that means is, when people are homeless, they’re more likely to be in contact with police, they’re more likely to come in courts, to be in juvenile justice or prisons, they’re more likely to be unemployed.

“They’re more likely to be in ambulances rather than going to a GP.”

He said there were a range of costs that taxpayers pay when there are more homeless people.

Through the Homes for Queenslanders plan the government is delivering eight new youth foyers, a youth homelessness hub and more accommodation.

Queensland Minister for housing Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“We have a dedicated plan for more youth foyers, financial support, social homes and supported accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness,” Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said.

“That is all at risk under the LNP, who scrapped the idea of a youth homelessness hub and have now outlined $15.5 billion in federal housing funding cuts.”