IN the 2023-24 year, more than 43,000 young people under the age of 25 reached out to homelessness services for help.
More than half were turned away because support agencies were already full with ever-growing waiting lists.
Regional support agencies say Youth Homelessness Matters Day on Wednesday, 16 April, is an opportunity to raise the reality of our housing crisis.
The Ovens Murray Local Area Service Network (OM LASN) works with all specialist funded homelessness services to advocate for the needs of people experiencing homelessness in our community.
Yet, the reality is there are very few options in the Ovens Murray region for young people who cannot live at home due to their circumstances.
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Claire Anderson, chair of the OM LASN and NESAY transitional services manager, said young people do not choose to be homeless - circumstances beyond their control force this event upon them.
She said young people experiencing homelessness tend to couch surf or live in unsafe or severely overcrowded conditions, and typically go unnoticed.
NESAY has various community initiatives for Wangaratta and surrounding communities to assist in supporting our young people.
“NESAY seeks to raise awareness for young people living in all states of homelessness, in order to provide support,” Ms Anderson said
“We know that if the first episode of homelessness is supported well and early, it can be brief and non-recurring.
"Let’s make this our aim as a community.
“A supported youth refuge in our local community can provide young people with a safe haven while being supported to find long-term solutions and remain in their community.”
Junction Support Services operates a refuge in Wodonga providing crisis accommodation for up to five young people aged between 15 and 17.
It is constantly at capacity.
“Hidden homelessness among youth is becoming more and more apparent,” said Kat Hodgens, Junction Support Services homelessness and specialist youth service manager.
“Youth homelessness generally presents differently from adult homelessness.
“For youth homelessness, it might be that they’re staying with family or friends, sleeping on a couch or staying somewhere that’s not safe, like a campground.
“Our coordinated LASN approach is about putting our youth homelessness crisis on the community’s radar and highlighting the urgent need to address youth homelessness in Australia.”
Junction Support Services now runs a Pay It Forward Meals program to help young people in need through its Social Traders Certified, Close Collective Café in Wodonga.
At Wangaratta, the NESAY Friends of NESAY identifies local businesses to pledge their support to end homelessness and promote their business as a safe place for young people.
“Fair Feed uses local cafes to provide subsidised meals for young people, encouraging both healthy food choices and social connectedness and belonging,” Ms Anderson said.
