Homelessness affects thousands of Tasmanian teenagers

From couch surfing to sleeping in shelters or even on the streets, homelessness is affecting one in every six Tasmanian teens and Mission Australia says its time for change. SEE THE STATS >>

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ONE in every six young people in Tasmania have had some experience with homelessness, a new report shows.

The Mission Australia report was released as the charity continued its Youthbeat outreach services in Hobart’s most disadvantaged areas.

Youthbeat’s vans are operational six days a week with professional youth workers trained to help young people address anti-social behaviour, drug and alcohol misuse and to access further supports and social networks.

The Staying home: A Youth Survey report showed 16.5 per cent of the Tasmanian 15-19 years olds surveyed had experienced homelessness either alone or with their families, time without a fixed address, living in a refuge or transitional accommodation and couch surfing.

Mission Australia youth workers Joe McLennan and Naomi Cappelli with the youth outreach bus at the Clarendon Vale skate park. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

One in eight Youth Survey 2019 respondents from Tasmania reported they had needed to couch surf.

Mission Australia said young people who had been homeless were twice as likely to have been bullied (39.7 per cent compared to 16.7 per cent) and report psychological distress (51.7 per cent compared to 21.1 per cent).

They also reported barriers to study and work such as financial difficulty, family responsibilities and a lack of family support.

Mission Australia state director Mychelle Curran said COVID-19 had further emphasised the need for affordable and safe housing in Tasmania.

“Without further investment in social and affordable homes as we move towards economic recovery, we continue to put our young people at risk of homelessness,” Ms Curran said.

“Young people who have been homeless told us they’re facing significant barriers as they move into their adult lives. The physical and mental burden of shifting from one inadequate and temporary dwelling to another puts many at risk of missing out on vital education and employment opportunities.”

She said early intervention could stop young people becoming homeless in the first place.

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