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Sydney is an incredible city – but there’s a serious issue that’s not talked about enough: how many young Sydneysiders are living on the streets, and the stats are heartbreaking.
According to research by YFoundations – the peak body for youth homelessness in NSW – 40 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Australia are under 25.
Approximately 43,000 young people in the country seek help each year, with one in three of those having experienced domestic and family violence. And here’s another blow: around half of children and young people are turned away when seeking crisis accommodation because the system isn’t adequately funded to respond to their needs.
Spearheaded by YFoundations, the Young & Alone campaign’s goal is that every child and young person will have a safe place to go – and they aim to do that by raising awareness about youth homelessness in Sydney and throughout Australia.
One of the ways they do this is by shining a light on Youth Homelessness Matters Day (YHMD). Started in 1990 to raise awareness of youth homelessness, YHMD is a national movement led by YFoundations – and the next one is coming up on Wednesday, April 15.
Yfoundations also partners with many charities supporting the country’s homeless youth, providing housing and support services to young people in crisis across Sydney.
YFoundations CEO John MacMillan says: “The majority of people don’t know the extent of the issue of youth homelessness, and when they learn about it, they’re shocked that more isn’t being done. Homelessness is a terrible breach of a young person’s rights, but when they get the services that they need, they can flourish and reach their full potential.”
So, how can you help?
You can help by spreading the word, donating to crisis services, showing up at fundraisers, advocating for action, and volunteering to support young people doing it tough. Find out more here.
You can learn more about YFoundations and the services they advocate for here.