Causes and access to services By Michelle Westgate Homelessness Resource Worker, YAIN

 Youth homelessness does not just mean sleeping rough on the streets. There are three different types of homelessness as defined by Chamberlain and MacKenzie 2008 in Counting the Homeless Report 2006, ABS and these are considered the standard cultural definition of homelessness in Australia.  On any given night in Australia 105,000 people are homeless and nearly half of these are under the age of 25“ ABS Census data 2006

 Primary homelessness includes all people without a ‘roof over their head’. This means people who are living on the streets, sleeping in parks, squatting in derelict buildings or using cars or trains as temporary shelter.

 Secondary homelessness includes people who frequently move from one type of shelter to another. This includes people living in homeless services, hostels, people staying with other households who have no home of their own and people staying in boarding houses for 12 weeks or less

 Tertiary homelessness refers to people who live in boarding houses on a medium to long term basis (more than 13 weeks), who live in accommodation that does not have ‘self- contained facilities’ for example they do not have their bathroom or kitchen and who don’t have the security provided by a lease. They are homeless because their accommodation does not have the characteristics identified in the minimum community standard for housing. Source: Chamberlain and MacKenzie 2008 Counting the Homeless Report 2006, ABS

 Family Breakdown  Intergenerational conflict  Mental health issues  Alcohol and other drug use  Behavioural issues  Disengagement from education and employment  Abuse and neglect

 The Specialist Homelessness Service provides services to people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless including:  Case Planning and Support Services  Immediate Emergency Accommodation (including Shelters)  Supervised Accommodation and Placement and Support Services for Young People  Transitional Support Services for homeless people to establish themselves in independent living (including financial counselling and personal support)  Other Specialist Homelessness Services funded services (including Sexual Assault Support Services and Domestic and Family Violence Counselling and Support Services).

There are several different types of accommodation that available to young people that are homeless. Many of the services are in shared environment and some have both sexes. Young people are 18+ can access adult services

Crisis Accommodation are for young people that are homeless  Crisis services are supported 24/7 by staff members  Young people can usually stay up to 3 months  Crisis services are shared houses and some can have male and females  Young people are provided with case management and referred to appropriate support services

Medium Term Services are usually for young people that have basic living skills  Some services have staff on site 24/7 and others are semi independent with staff on site only during working hours  Young people live in share houses  Young people may need to be involved in education or employment during the day  Stays can be from 6-12months  Young people are supported with case management and referral to appropriate services

Long term and Independent Accommodation  Independent accommodation with limited supports  Young epople need to be independent and have good living skills  Young people can stay up to 2 years  Young people are on lease with a community housing provider or service

Reconnect Services, Homelessness Action Plan (HAP) funded Services and Family and Adolescent counselling services can offer case management, family mediation, referral to other services, brokerage to assist young people with education, training and employment. With early support young people that are able to stay at home will be helped to stay at home, if not referred they will be referred to appropriate services.

Through SHS providers, HAP funded services, young people can be supported once they have left crisis or medium term accommodation. Post Crisis services can offer case management support, referral to other services, brokerage to assist young people with education, training and employment and support while young people are settling into independent housing.

Make the referral to the service that is the most appropriate for he young person  Crisis service beds are limited and young people may not be accommodated straight away.  Explain the referral process to the young person  The SHS provider may want to speak and interview the young person and or family( inform the worker id the young person needs an interpretor)  If the young person is under 16 then,most referrals will need to go through Community Services  Make report to Community services in the person is under 16 with as much info about their situation

For medium and long term accommodation services usually they cannot assist the person straight away and they will need to provide income statements as they will need to pay rent, go to interview, possible meet other young people that are if the house if tis a share house.

 When making a referral give as much information's relevant to the needs of the young person including mental health, self harm, cultural needs, immigration issues, family, education and training, employment, medical issues  If the young person has any other support services, inform the service provider so that can contact the service and not duplicate and  Follow up with the service after you have made a referral if the young person is confused about what is the outcome to find out what will be happening  NSW Housing can assist with limited Temporary accommodation for young people 16 and over.

 Homelessness is every ones business  Link in with the local youth and homelessness interagency, network or peak body  Go and visit your local SHS provider and find out what the service does and what it looks like so you can debunk some of myths about youth refuges  Develop MOU and co case management agreements with SHS services so that the best service can be provided to the young person

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