IN a “dog-eat-dog-world” new evidence shows homeless youth are competing for beds, taking their own lives and being failed by the current exhausted system.
A report from WA’s frontline homelessness services shows 69 unaccompanied youth compete for one crisis bed each night, and Perth would need triple the beds just to support those logged on the Perth By-Name List — a database tracking people experiencing homelessness.
Vinnies Impact lead and past youth worker Harry McEvoy says children as young as 12 feel they must prove themselves worthy to deserve a bed and often prioritise accessing homeless services to find safety and shelter over their education.
“We had children that will not be able to go to school because all the services are open during the day and often not on the weekend,” Mr McEvoy said.
“If they want to try and find housing they can’t go to school.
“They don’t have a choice.”
The report showed a youth aged 15 to 24 who accessed homelessness support died every six days in 2022 to 2023, with suicide being the top cause.
“We have had a lot of recent investment by [Cook] government, which is super welcomed. It’s been it’s really, really important. But I think we need more,” Mr McEvoy said.
Mr McEvoy said media coverage often reduces homelessness to the stereotype of an adult rough sleeper causing trouble, when in reality many people first experience homelessness as children, with about 75 per cent encountering it before turning 18.
In response, a coalition of frontline services including YACWA, YHAC, Shelter WA, WACOSS, WAAEH, Mission Australia WA, Vinnies WA and Indigo Junction have lodged a pre-budget submission calling on the state government to prioritise ending youth homelessness, starting with stronger prevention measures.
Indigo Junction CEO Sharon Gough and Vinnies CEO Ann Curran both said a model called Housing First for Youth must be prioritised and it would be the groups’ top priority.
The model prioritises “immediate, safe, secure and sustainable homes without preconditions or judgement” by using a youth-led approach tailored to young people aged 10 to 24 experiencing or at the risk of homelessness.
“Far too many young people are being turned away from homelessness services due to a severe shortage of beds, complex needs, and, in some cases, restrictive entry criteria,” Indigo Junction CEO Sharon Gough said.
“Most children experiencing homelessness are unaccompanied without a parent or guardian. Support systems must offer a range of options, prioritising low-barrier services and the provision of Housing First for Youth.”
Entry restrictions
State homelessness minister Matthew Swinbourn said while the state government had been consistent in its commitment to supporting children and young people experiencing homeless, it remained concerned by the growing number of young people experiencing homeless.
Mr Swinbourn said a key priority of the Cook government was a 10-Year Strategy on Homelessness 2020-2030, which aimed to provide safe, secure and sustainable homes.
“In 2024–25, Department of Communities invested more than $25 million in youth homelessness services, including supported accommodation across 24 service agreements, with a range of youth homeless service providers,” Mr Swinbourn said.
“Recently, I met with sector representatives and people with lived experience of homelessness to receive a briefing about their ‘Ending Youth Homelessness’ project, and look forward to continuing to engage on how we can deliver youth homelessness services in the most effective way,” Mr Swinbourn said.
Mr Swinbourn said the state government had invested in new initiatives including $5.7 million for 20 new units as apart of Indigo Junction’s youth accommodation in Midland and $5.8 million for additional units at Accordwest’s existing facility in Bunbury.
“Additionally, the state government is supporting measures such as the Youth at Risk Strategy, the Pilot Youth Psychological Support Packages and Pilot Youth Transitional Housing and Support Program and Ngatti House and Momentum QP,” Minister Swinbourn said.
“They address underlying causes driving youth homelessness, such as mental health, unemployment and family and domestic violence.
“These measures complement the state government’s record $5.8 billion investment into housing related initiatives since 2021, with more than 3800 social homes added in that time.
“We will continue to work collaboratively with government agencies and non-governmental partners, to deliver real action to end homelessness.”
More than 700 unaccompanied children and young people experience homelessness in WA on any given day and there are no available affordable rental properties in WA for a single person over 18 receiving Youth Allowance.
Nationally, young people aged between 18 and 24 make up about one in three clients who are both working and experiencing homelessness.
by ISLA TOMLINSON