Take action to end youth homelessness
More than 43,000 young people reach out to homelessness services for support each year in Australia. Youth homelessness is preventable - if we invest in the right programs. Family violence and a lack of affordable housing are the leading drivers.
No young person should be left without a safe place to sleep. A coordinated national response will ensure young people have safe, stable housing and youth-appropriate supports.
Your donation helps provide young people with safe housing, early intervention, and the support they need to rebuild their lives.
5% of this donation will go to Yfoundations, the NSW peak body advocating for young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness and the national coordinators of Youth Homelessness Matters Day.
The urgent reality
Without access to safe housing or services, many young people will be left without support, increasing their risk of long-term homelessness.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, in 2023-24 across Australia:
43,000+
children and young people (under 25) presented alone to specialist homelessness services
1 in 2
young people who tried to get a bed in a crisis refuge were turned away due to capacity limits
29,000+
young people needed long-term housing, but only 3.8% received it
43,000 Stories
Every year, more than 43,000 young people seek support from homelessness services.
These are just a few of their stories.
"During my long-term relationship I had experienced domestic violence ... Even if you feel like no one is on your side and the world is against you, [BYS workers] make you feel safe and cared for, like you have a voice and a purpose in this world ... Life as of now is starting to look up for me, I finally have my own house and I'm a full-time student."
Aria
"In my early teens, I left home and ended up sleeping rough on the streets of Logan before moving into Brisbane City...One of my major goals has always been to be the parent I never had. I want and need to be the opposite of what my father was.
My son deserves that."
Sam
"During the fights I would always make sure my sister was safe. I should have been protected as well, but felt like it was up to me. My partner’s friend knew of BYS. I got a housing support person and a families support worker. I was so happy to have a place I could call home, like nothing could happen to me in my own home."
Mia
Photos and names have been changed to protect the identities of young people.
How we can break the cycle
A home is more than just a roof - it’s a foundation for healing, stability, and opportunity. Safe and secure housing provides young people with a base to recover from trauma, develop a sense of self, and reconnect with their communities. Young people are change-ready, and can achieve great things if given the right opportunities.
We know what works
- Safe, stable housing so young people aren’t left without options.
- Early intervention programs that prevent young people entering the adult homelessness system.
- Youth-focused support services that help young people recover from trauma, develop life skills, and reach their full potential.
We must make ending youth homelessness a national priority
Young people experience the highest rates of homelessness in the country. This is preventable, but only if the right policies and funding are in place.
Brisbane Youth Service calls on all levels of government to take urgent action to address youth homelessness:
Develop a national plan to end youth homelessness
This must include a dedicated allocation of social housing for young people, who make up 23% of Australia’s homeless population yet only receive 2.8% of the social housing allocation.
Fund youth-specific domestic and family violence programs
Sustainable funding is essential to ensure young people have the tailored support needed to escape violence and break the cycle of homelessness.
Invest in early intervention
By funding early intervention, we can reduce demand on crisis services and long-term homelessness supports.
How you can help
Demand change
We’re calling on national and state governments to make ending youth homelessness a priority and adequately fund the services needed to achieve this objective.
Donate an hour of pay
Your gift today can help us be there for the growing number of young people with no safe place to call home.
Spread the word
Share your reason for supporting Youth Homelessness Matters Day, and let people know how they can make a difference. Use the hashtag #YHMD2025 and encourage your network to take action.
About Brisbane Youth Service
Since 1977, Brisbane Youth Service has been supporting young people (aged 12-25) who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in Brisbane and surrounding areas.
Today, we work with around 3,000 young people and their children each year – offering early intervention and wraparound support to break the cycle of homelessness into adulthood.
Our free, confidential services include:- crisis and transitional housing
- emergency relief
- physical and mental health services
- alcohol and drug interventions
- domestic and family violence support
- specialist programs for young women and young families
