Foster carers shun Australian homeless kids during lockdowns

Scared Aussie street kids younger than 14 have nowhere to live because foster carers don’t want to take in children during Covid-19 lockdowns.

Exclusive: Scared street kids have nowhere to live because foster carers don’t want to take in children during Covid-19 lockdowns, a child safety group has warned.

Save the Children’s Child Wise managing director Natalie Siegel-Brown said 20,000 children younger than 14 are homeless across Australia.

“Some have run away from violent families or caregivers,’’ Ms Siegel-Brown said.

“Some have been removed from their families by child protection authorities but have not been given a place to live either with a family or even in a residential setting. ‘’

Ms Siegel-Brown – a former Public Guardian in Queensland – said some children had been “abandoned’’ by child protection systems designed to be responsible for their care.

“Think about how scared your kids have been at various point by the pandemic and how much reassurance you’ve needed to give them,’’ she said.

“The children I’m talking about here have no constant, loving, attachment in their lives to reassure or protect them during these scary times.

“They sleep rough when the streets are empty and everyone else locks themselves away from the pandemic.’’

Natalie Siegel-Brown is the Managing Director of Child Wise and the former Queensland Public Guardian.

Ms Siegel-Brown said some foster carers were reluctant to take in children during the pandemic, as they feared catching Covid-19 or had trouble caring for traumatised children.

“It is a great step that in places like Sydney, hotel accommodation is now being provided to people sleeping rough, as we have seen happen in other states during periods of lockdown,’’ she said.

“It’s a shame that it takes a pandemic to finally achieve a roof over their head – but it still does not give a child relief from the fear, or the parental figure they so desperately need during this point in their development.’’

For help please call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Originally published as Foster carers shun Australian homeless kids during lockdowns