31 July 2024
Salvos highlight shocking number of homeless children and youth in Australia
Homelessness Week – August 5 to 11
It is a number that is beyond comprehension – on any given night 45,850[i] children and young people will be homeless in Australia. This devastating statistic is a stark reminder of the growing issue of homelessness, impacting some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
As the largest providers of homelessness services in Australia, The Salvation Army works tirelessly to support those experiencing homelessness, raise awareness of the issue and advocate for solutions. The Salvation Army’s youth services runs 10 crisis refuges across Australia and supports more than 4500 young people each year.
“We’re raising awareness of the scale of the issue and educating the community about what to do if they, or anyone they know, may be at risk of becoming homeless. It’s vital to educate the community about how organisations like The Salvation Army are supporting and preventing homelessness,” Peter McGrath, State Manager for Homelessness at The Salvation Army said.
Young people are particularly vulnerable to issues of housing breakdown including violence in the home, poverty and leaving school early. The Salvation Army advocates for fair and equitable access for young people to housing, from immediate crisis accommodation to long-term solutions.
“Children and young people should have the freedom and opportunity to grow up in safe environments. Most importantly, they deserve to feel safe at home. The sad reality is that there are many children without a safe place to live,” Natalee O’Brien, General Manager for Youth Services at The Salvation Army said.
Recently, more than 300 school students banded together to form the number 45,850 on their school oval to highlight the issue of youth homelessness in Australia.*
“With Homelessness Week coming up, we encourage everyone to learn more, join us in raising awareness and reach out if they need help,” Ms O’Brien said.
If you need support from The Salvation Army, visit salvationarmy.org.au or call 13 SALVOS.
Key statistics from The Salvation Army’s National Stream Report, April 2024:
Between January and April 2024, The Salvation Army assisted more than 19,000 people at risk of experiencing homelessness. Of nearly 2500 young people The Salvation Army’s youth services assisted during this time, almost half of the sessions (47%) were related to accommodation issues. The Salvation Army’s homelessness services reported a 5% increase in the number of people assisted compared to the same time the year before, and youth services increased by 11%.
In 2023, the Salvation Army assisted nearly 38,000 people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. More than one in six (16%) assisted by our homelessness services were accompanying children and young people aged 14 year and under.
ENDS
*Footage (including drone vision and vox pops from students) and images from yesterday’s school activation can be downloaded here.
For more information or to arrange an interview with an expert from The Salvation Army in your local area, contact The Salvation Army’s Media Relations Department on 02 9466 3143
[i] 45,850 children and young people (aged up to 24 years) were reported as experiencing homelessness in the 2021 Census
