A new report reveals the harsh reality of the homelessness crisis hitting South Aussie families, with almost 4750 children and youth seeking help from specialist services during the past financial year.
The figures were highlighted in a new report released by Homelessness Australia, which found SA — at 16 per cent – had the second highest increase of homeless youth between 2021/22 and 2022/23.
Across greater Adelaide, 2306 children under the age of nine are said to have experienced homelessness between 2022/23 and 2443 youth between the ages of 10 and 19.
In regional SA, 1450 children and youth experienced homelessness.
The 2024 Child Homelessness Snapshot also revealed more than 76,000 children under the age of 18 sought help from homelessness support services nationally during the 2022/23 financial year – 25,000 of which remained homeless even after seeking help, a nationwide 3.2 per cent increase over the previous year.
A further 19,833 children were turned away from support services without being provided any assistance at all, a result of the severe lack of resources and overwhelming demand faced by the sector.
Source: HA Child Homelessness Snapshot
The report also found First Nations children are over-represented among children experiencing homelessness, making up 32 per cent of homeless children nationally, despite comprising only 6.8 per cent of the population under 18.
The 2024 Child Homelessness Snapshot also reveals more than 25,000 children nationally remained homeless even after seeking help from specialist support agencies in 2022-23, a nationwide 3.2 per cent increase over the previous year.
A further 19,833 children were turned away from support services without being provided any assistance at all, a result of the severe lack of resources and overwhelming demand faced by the sector.
CEO of Homelessness Australia Kate Colvin family and child homelessness was a blight on Australia.
“How can a parent settle a child to sleep, keep them safe and have them ready for school if they are sleeping in their car or a tent in the middle of winter?,” she said.
“These figures should ring alarm bells among politicians and policymakers that action to tackle child and family homelessness is urgently needed.”
Homelessness Australia has called for a suite of measures to address the crisis as part of the forthcoming National Housing and Homelessness Plan.
CEO of Homelessness Australia Kate Colvin Picture: NewsWire / Gaye Gerard
Key among these is setting ambitious targets and timelines for action on the major drivers of homelessness; rental stress, domestic and family violence, and access to the support families need to thrive.
The Plan also needs to drive investment into the frontline of the homelessness and domestic violence response, so that when families and children seek help to avoid or escape homelessness, there is a worker and the housing and accommodation needed to get them into a stable home.
Other recommendations include a Homelessness Action Plan to end homelessness for Australian children and young people.
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Such a plan would unite child-centred services to respond to children at risk of homelessness, and address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of homeless children, ensuring they receive necessary care, support, and housing.
A dedicated First Nations Housing and Homelessness Plan is also needed to address the particular issues driving over-representation of First Nations children and families.
“It’s a national shame that in a wealthy, developed country like Australia, we have tens of thousands of families and young people—many of whom are grappling with domestic violence—without a safe place to call home,” Ms Colvin said.
“We urgently need a comprehensive national strategy to ensure that no Australian child ever experiences the trauma of homelessness.
“Our nation has the resources to solve this crisis. What we need now is the ambition to make it happen.”
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