Youth homelessness risk increasing as rents rise

A YOUTH support service says it’s seen a 60 per cent spike in young people seeking homelessness support in the past year, as soaring rent prices move accommodation further out of reach.

Barwon Child, Youth and Family (BCYF) provides homelessness support for young people aged between 10 to 25 across Surf Coast, the Bellarine and Greater Geelong.

It said about 1200 young people would seek homelessness support through its channels each year, and that on any given night approximately 200 would be experiencing or at risk of homelessness in the region.

BCYF said the COVID pandemic has exacerbated leading causes of homeless risk including family conflict, while surging rent prices was making housing affordable for displaced young people.

“Over the past year, our crisis services saw approximately 60 per cent increase in young people seeking emergency housing support across the region,” youth services manager Mandy Baxter said.

“They are coming to our youth services team for a number of reasons including housing stress due to loss of income, financial worry and family violence.

“The rental market has also become more difficult over the last two years, with increasing rent and a lack of available properties, making finding affordable housing challenging for young people.

“We are seeing that for many young people and families, securing affordable housing in the private rental market has become unaffordable and unattainable.”

Latest rent price data indicates the trend is worsening.

Real estate marketplace Domain’s most recent rental report showed Torquay’s median rent had jumped to $590 a week, up 13.5 per cent on the previous year.

Jan Juc’s figures were even higher, at $620 and 24 per cent.

Geelong houses typically cost between $400 and $450 at a growth rate of seven to 12 per cent – topped by Newtown at $495 and 12.5 per cent.

BCYF said it has adapted its services as a result of the pandemic so assistance is always available to young people, their families and the wider communities.

BCYF offers support at its office (109 Yarra Street, Geelong), by phone (5226 8900) and online (https://www.bcyf.org.au/youth-services/youth-homelessness/).

The non-profit’s services include early intervention programs such as The Geelong Project, which works with schools and families to keep young people more engaged and mitigate key risk factors.