‘Unacceptable’: Housing Minister on rise of homelessness in people aged between 12 and 24

Housing Minister Julie Collins says according to the 2021 census, 23 per cent of “all people” experiencing homelessness are aged between 12 and 24 years of age, which “is unacceptable”.

“The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing the number of people in Australia experiencing homelessness has sadly climbed again by 6,000 people from 2016 to 2021,” Ms Collins said during Question Time on Wednesday.

“It is of great concern – that almost 123,000 Australians were reported as experiencing homelessness on census night – these challenges are reaching new people who have never been homeless or at risk of homelessness before and in a country like Australia today, this is unacceptable there’s a lot to do to turn this around.

“Today I announce the government continues to invest into youth homelessness through the $91.7 million commitment to the Reconnect Program over the next three years – on 2021 census night, 23 per cent of all people experiencing homelessness were aged between 12 and 24 years of age – that is unacceptable.”

Housing Minister Julie Collins says according to the 2021 census, 23 per cent of “all people” experiencing homelessness are aged between 12 and 24 years of age, which “is unacceptable”. “The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics showing the number of people in Australia experiencing homelessness has sadly climbed again by 6,000 people from 2016 to 2021,” Ms Collins said during Question Time on Wednesday. “It is of great concern – that almost 123,000 Australians were reported as experiencing homelessness on census night – these challenges are reaching new people who have never been homeless or at risk of homelessness before and in a country like Australia today, this is unacceptable there’s a lot to do to turn this around. “Today I announce the government continues to invest into youth homelessness through the $91.7 million commitment to the Reconnect Program over the next three years – on 2021 census night, 23 per cent of all people experiencing homelessness were aged between 12 and 24 years of age – that is unacceptable.”

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