Young Australians experiencing homelessness face compounding disadvantage, report finds

Young Australians who experience homelessness are far more likely to face financial hardship, poor mental health and disruptions to their education, with new research revealing the compounding disadvantage that comes with housing instability.

The findings come as homelessness remains under intense scrutiny during Australia’s housing crisis, after a man died while sleeping rough in rural South Australia during winter, prompting separate calls for more support.

Mission Australia’s latest report, draws on responses from more than 17,000 young people aged 14 to 19 who took part in the 2025 Youth Survey.

It found nearly half (47 per cent) of respondents who had experienced homelessness said family or relationship breakdown and conflict was a contributing factor, followed by a lack of affordable housing (31 per cent) and family or domestic violence (30 per cent).

“Too many young people are starting life without a secure home — an unequal foundation that affects every part of their lives,” said Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister.

“Young people without safe and secure housing show extraordinary strength as they continue going to school or work while living with the daily stress of not knowing where they’ll sleep, whether they’ll have enough to eat, or what tomorrow will bring.”

The impacts were even more severe for teenagers facing homelessness alone, who were more likely to go without essential items, miss out on activities and struggle with school-related costs.

Almost 40 per cent said they felt sad or very sad about their lives, compared with 15 per cent of those who were homeless with a parent or guardian.

Their education was also more likely to be disrupted, with 42 per cent reporting they had missed school because of anxiety, depression or other mental health issues, compared with 29 per cent of those who were accompanied.

An 18-year-old woman from Western Australia said she feared she would have nowhere to live once her stay in a transitional housing unit came to an end.

“I cannot afford a rental and I get knocked back for the ones I can because there are so many people applying,” she said.

“I can’t even afford the rooms to rent. I have no family that are willing to help me.”

Mission Australia called on the Albanese government to boost income support payments, including JobSeeker and Youth Allowance, to at least $600 a week.

“Young people relying on income support are being forced to make impossible choices between paying rent, buying food and meeting other basic needs,” Ms Callister said.

“When income support doesn’t cover the basics, housing instability and financial hardship become deeply intertwined, and young people’s mental health and wellbeing suffer as a result.”

The report also found more than half (53 per cent) of teenagers who experienced homeless either didn’t access housing services or weren’t sure if they had.

Nearly half (48 per cent) also didn’t access, or weren’t sure if they’d accessed, non-housing supports such as counselling or legal services.

Mission Australia welcomed the government’s $60 million in funding for the National Youth Housing Supplement in the recent Federal Budget but said it’s not enough on its own.

The organisation also called for increased investment in social and affordable housing, alongside youth-specific housing options such as youth foyers and supported tenancies.

“If we want to truly tackle homelessness and housing instability, we must grow the number of social and affordable homes, so they make up at least six per cent of all homes in Australia as a first step, and 10 per cent in the long term,” she said.

Despite their varying experiences, young people experiencing homelessness shared the same top three hopes for the future —financial security and owning a home, achieving their employment and career goals and building strong family relationships and connections.

“We need sustained investment in social and affordable housing, properly funded youth homelessness services and a stronger focus on early intervention so young people are supported before they reach a crisis point,” said Ms Callister.

“With the right investment and commitment, we can end youth homelessness in Australia.”