Homelessness must be spoken about to be addressed is the mantra of the Queensland Youth Housing Coalition (QYHC), a state-wide coalition of organisations and individuals advocating for and with disadvantaged, marginalised and homeless young people and supporting the services that work with them.
In Australia there are over 26,000 homeless young people. 1 in 6 young people are currently living in poverty and almost 60,000 young people access homelessness services each day. 34,000 children under 18 years of age sought homelessness services due to domestic and family violence in the 2016-17 financial year. Domestic and family violence is a leading cause of homelessness. In March this year, speaking at the Queensland Launch of Parity Magazine, the Hon Michael De Brenni MP, Minister for Housing and Public Works, noted homelessness as a significant Queensland issue. He highlighted that it is particularly concerning for children and young people “with over half of Queensland’s homeless being under 25 years.” He further noted domestic and family violence as a pertinent causal factor.
QYHC’s annual Platform 1225 Forum focuses on issues that significantly impact the lives of young people and interface with youth homelessness. In May this year, Platform 1225’s keynote presenters and panellists highlighted the realities and complexities of domestic and family violence, its impact on young people and the interconnection with homelessness. International keynote Speaker, Duluth’s Scott Miller, stated:
“Often young people are displaced through domestic and family violence, child protection systems and many other issues and need housing, education, employment and other supports. We think by providing that, on the occasions when we can, we are doing what is needed and that is our service provision. Yet what is needed goes so much deeper than that. These requirements are the tip of the iceberg. We need to address the issues that formulated the iceberg. We need to rethink how we work with clients impacted by domestic and family violence and homelessness, understand and contextualise our roles, contracts and other arrangements we’ve signed up to in service delivery.”
QYHC is intent on supporting the homelessness sector and young people with the plethora of issues that need to be addressed to ensure quality holistic support for young people. Issues such as interrupted education, relationships and connection with families, peers and mentors, schools and sporting communities significantly impacts the thousands of children and young people who experience homelessness, marginalisation and disadvantage in Queensland. QYHC’s work includes a recognition of all young people including those with a statutory care experience. They aim for all young people to have access to stable housing, education, income, support, and assistance in maintaining connection with significant persons in their lives.
Queensland Youth Housing Coalition was founded in 1984 as a not-for-profit state-wide body advocating for young homeless people and supporting the services that work with them. Their vision is to ensure that young people regardless of their age, social status, sexuality, ethnicity, income or ability are socially and economically included in our community.
On May 11th this year, Queensland celebrated this vital resource in youth homelessness returning as a funded State Peak youth housing and homelessness organisation to benefit Queensland’s most vulnerable. After 4 years without government funding, their capacity to achieve their goals is significantly enhanced. QYHC made this funding announcement at their Platform 1225 event. Former Executive Director, Maria Leebeek, returned to the helm:
“Since our establishment, we have evolved to become a significant voice for marginalised young people. The focus has always been on ending youth homelessness. We stay true to that aim today. To achieve this, we are working with key stakeholders, our government partners, most significantly the Department of Housing and Public Works. We are intent on having meaningful conversations with young people, their advocates and those within their support system. We’re also working in partnership with the organisations that accommodate and assist them” said Maria Leebeek. “The reality is, if we are to end youth homelessness we need to tackle poverty and inequity and respond to the plethora of needs young people have. To do so, we need to listen to what they say and benefit from the wealth of experience they have to offer. They are the experts in their lives and we need to know that, listen to them and really hear what they have to say. I’m excited about this new opportunity and the equal enthusiasm of the Department of Housing and Public Works given that they share this intent.”
Queensland Youth Housing Coalition and the Department of Housing and Public Works have entered into a strategic alliance to enable active, structured and supported collaboration between the youth homelessness sector and government. The alliance will focus on issues identified in the sector as well as supporting services to be strong, effective, sustainable and viable. All activities will be aligned to and support the implementation of the Queensland Housing Strategy 2017-2027 and Partnering for Impact.
The key work QYHC plans comprises the following three focus areas:
- Provision of Youth Program Development and Service Support.
- Review of the Supporting Young People under 16 years of age: Guidelines for Good Practice for Specialist Homelessness Services (Under 16 Guidelines).
- The Prevention and Early Intervention Project (PEIP) for Young People.
To start the conversation with Queensland’s stakeholders, a number of organisations across the state will attend a networking breakfast on Wednesday 8th August at Espresso Train Café in Nundah. “QYHC is intent on having many conversations in many ways to ensure that what young people need is understood and responded to” said Maria. “We exist and do this work for no other reason than to ensure that young people have a voice, that they’re heard and supported by the organisations and support systems they have to assist them. At QYHC we’re passionate about ensuring that young people are centre stage in their own lives and wellbeing and we can enable this by working towards collaborative systemic responses to their specific needs.”
QYHC is clear that housing is the bedrock from which young people can undertake social and economic opportunities. They are committed to improving the life opportunities and the wellbeing of young people who have been impacted by homelessness and the multitude of associated issues such as domestic and family violence, mental ill health, poverty and isolation. QYHC is intent on working with government and non-government partners to break down systemic barriers and enhance young people’s wellbeing through access to affordable, secure housing, education, health, income support, safety and social connection.
For more information visit the QYHC website.