Youth Homelessness

Youth homelessness occurs when young people have no safe, stable home and are sleeping rough, couch-surfing, staying in unsafe situations or moving between short-term arrangements. It’s often driven by family conflict, violence, poverty, discrimination or leaving care or detention without adequate support. Anglicare’s services focus on early intervention, safe accommodation and rebuilding connections so young people can move towards independence.

You can help by supporting services that provide safe housing, counselling and practical life skills, like Anglicare’s InSync service, Reconnect service, and Youth Homelessness Accommodation Project in Logan. Donations and fundraising help keep beds and programs running; volunteering and advocacy raise awareness about youth housing stress. Even learning to have non-judgmental conversations with young people can open the door to support and reduce isolation.

Young people experiencing homelessness need safe, stable accommodation, but also consistent adults who can help with mental health, education, employment, and reconnecting with family or culture where safe. Anglicare’s youth services combine crisis or transitional housing with case management, counselling, group activities and advocacy, recognising that secure housing, relationships and identity all matter for long-term stability.

Reconnect is a federally funded early-intervention program that supports young people who are at risk of homelessness by helping them stay connected to family, school and community. Anglicare’s Reconnect service in Inala and Ipswich offers outreach support, mediation, counselling and links to education or training. The focus is on resolving conflict safely, rebuilding support networks and preventing homelessness.