Ending Youth Homelessness

There is no overarching strategy or plan to address youth homelessness in Victoria. This is despite the fact that each night there are more than 6,000 young people with no safe place to sleep across the state.

MCM is committed to driving systemic change to end youth homelessness.

Young people are at significant and unique risk of homelessness. Young people have different pathways into homelessness, and unique experiences of homelessness, they are at a critical life stage transitioning to independence and adulthood. For most young people, it’s not about sleeping rough – it might be couch surfing and living out of a backpack without the support of parents while trying to keep up with school or work.

They are not a group that necessarily identifies as ‘homeless’, and as such, are often hesitant to access services before it reaches breaking point.

What we’re doing about it

MCM is calling on the Victorian and Federal Governments to implement a stand-alone Youth Homelessness Strategy. This strategy must acknowledge and act on the distinct causes and experiences of youth homelessness.

To support the development of the strategy, MCM partnered with the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) to conduct research to guide its implementation. This work was led by MCM, in collaboration with Council to Homeless Persons and the homelessness sector.

The findings of this research should guide the development of a Victorian Youth Homelessness Strategy.  Namely, we are advocating for:

1. The creation of services to meet the needs of young people transitioning to adulthood across a range of areas, including housing, living skills, health and wellbeing, education, and learning.
2. Recognition that young people are not a minority – and the strategy must embrace all young people regardless of how they identify.
3. Pathways out of homelessness based on individual circumstances, acknowledging the unique drivers of youth homelessness, and ensuring young people don’t get ‘stuck in the system’.
4. Prevention and early intervention services to stop homelessness before it starts or reduce longer-term progression into adult homelessness.
5. Tailored approaches to support young people to move beyond their experience of homelessness into independence.

Find out more

Watch our Webinar below: Towards a Youth Homelessness Strategy presented in collaboration with AHURI.