Youth Homeless Matters Day: Social Futures calls on landlords, real estate agents to give young tenants ‘fair go’

A key Northern Rivers not-for profit has called on landlords to give young renters a “fair go”, while one inspiring woman has shared her own homelessness struggle after her mum’s tragic death.

Young people are the largest group of rough sleepers in the nation.

A key Northern River community service provider has called on landlords to give young tenants a fair go as they increasingly struggle to get a roof over their heads.

Social Futures, an NDIS provider, has been helping young adults secure homes through government subsidies.

Earlier this year it lodged a $13 million development application with Lismore City Council to build 13 social and affordable units in Goonellabah

Young people 15–24 made up 21 per cent of the homeless population (around 24,200 people), according to the latest Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures, and are the largest group of rough sleepers nationally.

Youth Homelessness Matters Day was Wednesday and Social Futures called on real estate agents and landlords to give young renters a “fair go”.

Lucie White, Social Futures program manager, said young people have been hard hit by soaring rental costs and low vacancy rates – and frequently face discrimination.

“Young people, due to their young age, have a limited work history and often no previous rental experience,” she said.

Ms White said landlords often hesitate to rent to younger people, making them more vulnerable to rough sleeping.

“But all young people need is a chance to prove they are capable. Sadly, too many just can’t get their foot in the door of a rental,” she said.

Lismore resident Emma Jacobsen shared her story of battling homelessness after he mum’s sad passing. Picture: Supplied

Lismore’s Emma Jacobsen was just 18 when her mother died two years ago and she ended up homeless.

“We were like two peas in a pod,” she said.

“We went everywhere together. We went to the movies, we went shopping – she’d be like ‘I don’t want to go to the shops alone, come with me’.

“I remember two weeks before she passed away, I was sitting in the kitchen and I said to her ‘I can’t lose you, you’re the last thing I’ve got.’

“I couldn’t even think about what I would be doing next.”

Ms Jacobsen’s mum died suddenly of ischaemic heart disease leaving Ms Jacobsen devastated – and without a place to live.

“I screamed, I threw up, I blacked out for like 20 minutes. I don’t think I stopped crying for two weeks straight,” she said.

The 2022 floods left many houses in Lismore and the wider Northern River unlivable. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

The teen couch surfed for almost a year and ended up getting financial aid at Centrelink.

When Ms Jacobson told them she had nowhere to sleep, they referred her to Social Futures and she was placed into transitional housing.

“If it wasn’t for Social Futures, I think I’d still be on the streets,” she said.

After 12 months, Ms Jacobsen gets the keys to her own apartment, she has been working and will be supported through the Rent Choice Youth Program.

It helps people aged 16-24 years to find or remain in a house, pay the rent and links them up with a support worker to help them live independently.

“It’s actually affordable for us, for young people. And it gives us that extra boost to know you’re able to do it.” Ms Jacobsen said.

Northern Rivers real estate agent Andrew Gordon.

Northern Rivers agent Andrew Gordon said he has four tenancies with young people on Rent Choice.

He urged other real estate agents and landlords to give young people a chance and said the community has an obligation to nurture the next generation.

“Unless we provide the opportunity to stay in our regional areas, they will go,” Mr Gordon said.

He said often young people just need to be given a chance to thrive.

“There are many who don’t have that ‘bank of mum and dad’ to help them, but given the chance, and the opportunity they will flourish,” Mr Gordon said.

If you or someone you know is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, contact Link2Home on 1800 152 152 or The Child Protection Helpline on 132 111 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week).