A fresh start after youth homelessness

In Australia more than 122,000 people are estimated to be experiencing homelessness. Nearly a quarter of these people are aged 12 to 24 years. In Victoria alone, one in six people seeking assistance from homelessness services were young people, and more than 3,300 were aged between 10-14 years old and unaccompanied by an adult or carer. This is a crisis that we can no longer ignore.

Experiencing homelessness in your youth can spark a lifetime of housing instability, impacting education, health, employment, welfare and other needs. It’s critical that young people at risk can access safe, secure housing to break this cycle and reach their full potential.

Homes for Homes is part of the solution to end homelessness, raising funds for the creation of social and affordable housing. Owners and renters register their property with Homes for Homes, promising to donate 0.1% of their home’s sale price or rent. These funds are pooled and donated to community housing providers who can create safe and affordable housing for those living on the margins.

Thanks to our property partners at Balcon Group who generously donated on land sales at their Orana development in Clyde North, Victoria, Homes for Homes was able to grant $100,000 to Kids Under Cover, who provide relocatable studio accommodation options for young people at risk of homelessness.

Kids Under Cover have now built the first of two studios for children and a carer in the City of Casey. The household had experienced trauma from family violence, and in their previous housing had been challenged by overcrowding and lack of privacy, leading to health and behavioural challenges. Now the two-bedroom studio provides space to study and socialise with much needed privacy, keeping the family connected in an appropriate environment whilst allowing for independence.

This is just one of 22 social and affordable housing projects across Australia that Homes for Homes has funded, supporting more than 300 people experiencing homelessness and marginalisation to have a place to call home.

The issue of homelessness is too big for any one person, business or government to solve. Homes for Homes is a simple community empowered solution that we can all get behind.

“My daughter has made the bungalow her own taking great pride in her space and hygiene. She has got herself a job and enjoys respecting her things and people and generally being responsible.” – Kids Under Cover resident.