Welfare recipients feel they are being given the cold shoulder by Centrelink

HOMELESS youths are being left out in the cold due to tough Centrelink rules requiring welfare recipients to have a fixed address.

Jade Elizabeth was left scrambling to survive when she became homeless in 2014. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

HOMELESS youths are being left out in the cold due to tough Centrelink rules requiring welfare recipients to have a fixed address.

An investigation led by the Leader has found hundreds of young homeless people are being locked out of the system as they have no permanent address nor the necessary identification to claim a PO Box.

According to the Department of Human Services, a homeless person can claim Centrelink payments but they must provide an alternative address, which may include a “Post Office Box, ‘Care of’ local post office, a friend or a local service provider”.

But the rigid requirements have been slammed by youth homelessness case workers.

“In many cases young homeless people have no family, friends or the identification required to organise something like a PO Box,” Melbourne City Mission senior worker Jana Anderson said.

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“The biggest barrier to get young people on Centrelink is ID ... you spend a lot of time looking for various forms to meet the requirements — time that young people in these situations don’t have because they need help urgently.”

According to the 2016 Census, 285 young people are homeless in Maribyrnong.

Jade Elizabeth, who now lives in a rental property in West Footscray, was left scrambling to survive when she became homeless in 2014. The 28-year-old told the Leader that she approached Centrelink Melton in desperation at the early stages of becoming homeless, only to be told that she would lose her income support payments if she did not have a fixed address.

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“I was in there for hours bawling my eyes out, thinking if I lose my Centrelink payment, I can’t study, I can’t work, I can’t live,” she said.

“I was having panic attacks and I was scared — I just wanted a home but I was going to lose everything.”

Centrelink offers a one-off crisis payment to help people in strife, which is a loan equivalent to a week’s pay at the person’s current payment rate.

Ms Elizabeth said a social worker from Centrelink offered to put her on the public housing list but there was a three-year long waitlist.

A spokesman for the Department of Human Services said they encouraged people at risk of or experiencing homelessness to discuss their situation with staff to ensure they received the appropriate support.

But Ms Anderson said a shortfall of the system was that young people may not appear vulnerable enough to staff to receive the assistance required.

If you’re experiencing homelessness contact Melbourne City Mission on 8625 4444.

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