Family and Community Services helping homeless youth around CBD, inner city

A SPECIALIST team of community services workers is now patrolling Sydney’s CBD to get young people off the streets. The Daily Telegraph can reveal they have been conducting targeted homeless youth outreach each week since July.

A SPECIALIST team of community services workers is now patrolling Sydney’s CBD to get young people off the streets.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal that Family & Community Services has been conducting targeted homeless youth outreach in the CBD and inner city each week since July as part of a strategy to cut the growing number of people under 24 sleeping rough.

It follows a 92 per cent increase in the number of homeless youth aged 19 to 24 in NSW in 10 years, with increasing concerns young people are becoming Sydney’s “hidden homeless”.

FACS have been reaching out to homeless people on the streets. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

There are concerns young people are becoming Sydney’s “hidden homeless”. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

The strategy is aimed at helping people under 24 keep off the streets. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

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Last year, more than 18,936 young people aged 15-24 required support from specialist homelessness services in NSW.

The FACS team is working with specialist service LaunchPad to help offer young people housing and support services.

FACS homelessness manager Michael Morrison said young people sleeping on the streets were often reluctant to ­accept help due to their mistrust of government.

FACS have been helping the homeless in the CBD and inner city each week since July. Picture: Darren Leigh Roberts

“Young people who are sleeping rough are generally far less visible, they’ll often be for safety reasons sleeping in places that are more hidden. Being a smaller team and being more mobile we’re able to get into some of those ­places,” Mr Morrison said

Minister for Family and Community Services Pru Goward said the government was making assertive outreach a focus of its homeless strategy.

“We have to be pro­active … building trust and a solid relationship with young people,” she said.

Amber Kous, 19, who fell pregnant at 17, spent most of her teens sleeping rough. Picture: Toby Zerna

Amber Kous, 19, spent most of her teens couch surfing or sleeping rough.

But after falling pregnant at 17 with her son Oliver, Ms Kous has been helped by Wiyanga House which supports young mothers at risk of homelessness.

“People judge those on the streets, but they’re there because they have nowhere else to go. I would have never chosen to be there,” Ms Kous said.