Victorian Youth Homelessness Snapshot

Groundbreaking census of homeless children and young people reveals violence, health emergencies and serious trauma are common - but safe housing remains out of reach.

Melbourne City Mission (MCM) has launched the inaugural Victorian Youth Homelessness Snapshot in partnership with Social Ventures Australia (SVA) at Victorian Parliament House. It is the first census of children and young people connected to Victoria’s largest and only statewide youth homelessness service provider.

The Snapshot unearthed high rates of family violence, health emergencies, self-harm and suicide risk among 15-24 year-olds trying to survive alone with nowhere to live.

It also revealed that a third of young people in this group first lost their homes aged 16 or younger, with many more remaining homeless for years with no end in sight.

It found that health, mental health, child protection and homelessness service systems are unable to connect vulnerable children and young people to safe housing, often discharging them back into homelessness.

MCM CEO Vicki Sutton said the Victorian Youth Homelessness Snapshot was the first of its kind in Victoria and would be a regular census of children and young people experiencing homelessness.

“We found that young people are facing violence, health emergencies and ongoing trauma with very little chance of finding a safe home and the support they need.”

“These findings paint a picture of hopelessness and despair that none of us would want for ourselves, our own kids or any young person. It is unacceptable that young people are forced to live with danger and uncertainty for years while trying to find a safe home to rebuild their lives.”

“Victoria has taken some important steps in the right direction, but there is more we need to do. These results show how we must open more doors and connect more young people to the safe homes and support they need.”

“The Victorian Youth Homelessness Snapshot will help us continue the discussion around investment and reform, keeping the voices of young people front and centre.”

Executive Director at SVA Consulting, Susie King, said SVA partnered with MCM to deliver the Snapshot to improve the availability of data on the situation faced by many young people in Victoria experiencing homelessness. She hopes it will inform better decision-making and a more joined-up approach across government and the community sector.

“The Snapshot shines a light on the intersecting experiences of young people across family violence, mental health and persistent homelessness, which are often treated in silos. Selected macro-economic and budgetary data helps better understand Victoria’s current economic context and government spending.”

The Victorian Youth Homelessness Snapshot 2024 was launched this morning by the Victorian Minister for Housing, the Hon Harriet Shing, MCM CEO Vicki Sutton, Council to Homeless Persons CEO Deborah Di Natale, and Executive Director at SVA Consulting Susie King at Victorian Parliament House.

About the Victorian Youth Homelessness Snapshot 2024

The Victorian Youth Homelessness Snapshot included 177 children and young people aged 15-24 who were homeless on 27 February 2024 and connected to Melbourne City Mission, Victoria’s largest youth homelessness provider, and its statewide youth homelessness service, Frontyard Youth Services.

Key findings from the Snapshot included:

• Overrepresentation of First Nations and LBGTIQ+ identified young people.
• 4 in 5 grew up experiencing family violence prior to losing their home
  • 1 in 2 young people from this group were known to child protection
• 1 in 2 young people had been admitted to a hospital emergency department for mental health concerns
  • 2 in 3 young people from this group had been discharged from hospital back into homelessness
• 1 in 2 young people reported self-harm, suicide ideation or suicide attempts

Noting that Snapshot participants were all aged 15-24, the following findings on duration of homelessness were particularly concerning:

• 2 in 3 young people had been homeless for two years or longer
• 1 in 3 young people had been homeless for five years or longer
• 1 in 3 young people first lost their homes aged 16 or younger

Earlier this year, the Australian Institute of Health and Wellbeing found over 11,000 unaccompanied children and young people aged 15-24 had sought assistance from homelessness services in Victoria.

About Melbourne City Mission

Melbourne City Mission is a leading community support organisation that works alongside people to live the life they aspire to, their way. It provides a broad range of support in the areas of homelessness, early years, disability, early childhood intervention services, education, palliative care, and mental health. 

About Social Ventures Australia

SVA is Australia’s most innovative social impact organisation, created over twenty years ago to solve challenging social problems and speed up the rate of positive change. SVA helps institutions think differently, redesign systems, and work hand-in-hand with passionate partners and communities to take real action on social change. Visit www.socialventures.org.au for more information.