CraigHHomeless Youth Numbers Double In Australia
April 22nd 2008 08:37
The National Youth Commission (NYC) this month released it’s report on youth homelessness, stating that the number of youths aged 12-25 and homeless has doubled in the past twenty years. This age group now makes up one third of the total 100,000 (estimated) homeless population in Australia.
About half of all homeless youths are turned away from shelters every night, simply because there aren’t enough beds for them. Only about 14% of homeless youths actually have access to a bed on any given night.
The NYC stated that the two main reasons for homelessness amongst youths are breakdown of relationships with parents or step parents, and financial or housing difficulties.
Mental illness is also a major contributing factor. The proportion of homeless youth with mental illness is 44%, compared with 18% of the general homeless population.
Law-breaking often accompanies homelessness, with young homeless people having 10 times the contact with police as in the general population.
The NYC says that our prosperity should be able to eliminate homelessness, and the unacceptably high figures are a national disgrace. It says that unless urgent action is taken, there could be an explosion in the number of homeless youth.
The report calls for an extra $100 million in federal funding over the next three years, and at least $20 million for the next ten years after that. The estimated net benefit of early intervention in this problem is $900 million. This takes into account that it costs $70,000 per year to keep a young person in detention, and the cost of support is significantly lower. Support also leads to new contributions to the economy.
The eighty recommendations of the report include four key areas that need to be addressed: Prevention of homelessness; Early intervention; Supporting needy youth; and Stopping homelessness recurring.
About half of all homeless youths are turned away from shelters every night, simply because there aren’t enough beds for them. Only about 14% of homeless youths actually have access to a bed on any given night.
The NYC stated that the two main reasons for homelessness amongst youths are breakdown of relationships with parents or step parents, and financial or housing difficulties.
Mental illness is also a major contributing factor. The proportion of homeless youth with mental illness is 44%, compared with 18% of the general homeless population.
Law-breaking often accompanies homelessness, with young homeless people having 10 times the contact with police as in the general population.
The NYC says that our prosperity should be able to eliminate homelessness, and the unacceptably high figures are a national disgrace. It says that unless urgent action is taken, there could be an explosion in the number of homeless youth.
The report calls for an extra $100 million in federal funding over the next three years, and at least $20 million for the next ten years after that. The estimated net benefit of early intervention in this problem is $900 million. This takes into account that it costs $70,000 per year to keep a young person in detention, and the cost of support is significantly lower. Support also leads to new contributions to the economy.
The eighty recommendations of the report include four key areas that need to be addressed: Prevention of homelessness; Early intervention; Supporting needy youth; and Stopping homelessness recurring.
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Comment by the world of gaye
batty
Family Madness
bright lights greedy city
REFLECTIONS
Gaye Land
Comment by JJK
Take it or leave it. Its a hard fact.
Its our job to school them, educate and set boundaries.
As usual though, baby boomers just feel sorry for themselves.
Comment by Jarrah
Back to the Eighties
Just wanted to say great work on your blog, and the other stuff you've done also.
I haven't really been homeless much (apart from short stints) but certainly feel for them. I've tried things in the past and are getting involved with organizations a little now in Geelong.
Just read the book Under the Overpass - have you read it?
Great book, I truly recommend it.
Comment by the world of gaye
batty
Family Madness
bright lights greedy city
REFLECTIONS
Gaye Land
Comment by JJK
Zero responsibility.
Your child is defined by you, wake up.
Every single kid, at least mid to long term ones on the street have huge family/emotional problems.
98% of men in jail's issues relate back to their father.
Yes, their not all 'bad'. you don't have to be bad. We all make mistakes. But, baby boomers never like admitting their mistakes, as is well known...
Comment by the world of gaye
batty
Family Madness
bright lights greedy city
REFLECTIONS
Gaye Land
Comment by CraigH
Australian Consumer Network
Homelessness Issues
Australian Tales
Thanks also to Gaye and JJK for the interest you both obviously have in the plight of the homeless, especially homeless youth.
My own experiences working with this demographic group is that most come from abusive or neglective backgrounds, and I am not sure that baby boomers as a group are to blame for the majority of homeless youth.
It is true that some otherwise "respectable" parents lose touch with their kids, and a certain amount of runaways living on the streets fall into the homeless youth category. But I do not feel that they are the majority. They are usually kids that have made a wrong decision, and seem to tend to eventually go home again.
I suppose, also, that a certain amount of baby boomers could also fall into the category of abusive or neglective parents, but I am not convinced they are the majority of their generation. Many of the kids are out of control, even while living at home, and this is maybe more indicative of what JJK is trying to get across.