Homelessness in Australia is a growing epidemic, and our children are paying the price.

With inflation continuing to push more families into poverty and increased demands for safe, affordable housing in an unscrupulous market, it is a national crisis that can no longer be ignored.

Our priority at Barnardos Australia is the safety and wellbeing of children. And sadly, children are the unspoken victims of homelessness across Australia. Our Children’s Family Centres have observed significant increase in families going without essentials and unable to afford safe accommodation, with many living in cars or in overcrowded, unsafe housing. Key findings from our recent YouGov survey indicate that 91% of participants agree that experiencing homelessness as a child impacts a person for the rest of their life. Without safety and stability, children and young people cannot reach their milestones and thrive.

The quality of social housing in Australia, or lack thereof, is driving vulnerable families to the impossible decision of turning down properties because they are simply unsafe. Poor maintenance and structural issues are often what many desperate parents face. They are left with the absurd choice of accepting public housing that child protection would deem unsafe or risk homelessness. While recent commitments from the NSW Government have been encouraging, Barnardos Australia is calling on all levels of government to appropriately fund housing options and social support services, to ensure no child falls through the cracks.?

While social housing remains questionable, there are close to zero appropriate rental homes available for families in Sydney for under $600 per week. Similarly, housing opportunities in regional areas and other capitals are extremely limited. Affordable housing options are often not affordable for people on a low income or single parent homes. A recent NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS) study revealed 62% of households and 90% of single parents going without essentials or unable to afford essentials in 2023 (1). High energy bills and increased rents are contributing to debt accumulation Our case workers are regularly supporting families who have accumulated significant debts with AfterPay and similar companies because they have used these facilities to purchase groceries and other essentials. How can we expect them to survive when the rising cost of living continues to increase financial stresses? Measures such as rental subsidies and greater regulation of the private rental market could change the life trajectory of the next generation. We must take action to support families in crisis to ensure their children remain safe and can enjoy their childhood free from poverty and homelessness. If we fail to act, we face a future where the intergenerational trauma cycle continues. Even in cold economic terms this is not a future anyone wants.

Notable increases in domestic violence cases are also driving more people, especially women and children, to homelessness. Often the perpetrator remains in the family home, while the mother and children are forced to flee in an attempt to find safety. A lack of financial support and access to crisis accommodation means that they are left with no other choice but to live in their car, couch surf, or worse – return to the perpetrator. Our YouGov survey showed that 92% of participants agree there should be more housing options for domestic violence victims. By addressing domestic violence and with a greater focus on early intervention, we can prevent those most vulnerable from becoming homeless and keep families together.

The desperation felt by families facing homelessness is palpable. They’re struggling to survive on a daily basis and to secure a safe place to call home for their children. It is not a question of their ability to parent, but their means of surviving in a world where the rising cost of living is forcing more people into hardship than ever before.

Barnardos Australia will always be here to support children, young people and families in need because they have a right to a safe and secure home. We are willing to go beyond the point of crisis to ensure children remain free from homelessness and poverty – because they deserve the brightest future possible. Homelessness in Australia is a growing epidemic, but together we can get to the root of the problem by providing those most vulnerable with equal chances. Social support services just like Barnardos are exhausting all avenues to keep children and young people safe from homelessness, and so it’s time for our government to step up and ensure adequate housing and affordable living for all.

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(1)??? NSW 2023 Cost of Living Crisis Report: Barely Hanging On – UTS and NCOSS, Inequality in Australia: Insights from the Life Chances Study 1990-2024?

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