By David Allen
Children and young people in Melbourne’s west are being left homeless for more than three years on average due to a lack of crisis accommodation.
Melbourne City Mission, a homelessness service operating out of Footscray, says young people are too often forced to sleep rough due to under-resourced services and long wait lists.
Mission’s CEO Vicki Sutton says young people are often escaping family violence and are unable to secure crisis accommodation. “They end up sleeping rough, prone to sexual violence and … exploitation as they struggle to find some kind of sleeping option,” she says.
Ms Sutton says homeless young people experienced higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts.
“They are cycling for many years between multiple homelessness refuges, the streets and emergency departments with no access to housing,” says Sutton.
Soaring rental prices post-COVID have also worsened the situation, with adults now occupying lower cost properties that might otherwise have been used by young people as share-houses.
Ms Sutton says low Centrelink support payments mean there are “zero safe and appropriate private rental properties in the west for young people.”
The Mission operates out of Barkly Street in Footscray’s CBD and provides a wide range of services for homeless people of all ages and families facing crisis.
They also offer domestic violence mitigation, family support and school engagement programs.
They are the only statewide youth homelessness access point.
MCM is part of 150 organisations Australia-wide calling on the government to build 15,000 dedicated youth tenancies through the Home Time campaign.
“The government must urgently address the distinct gap in support for young people who are victim-survivors of family violence and navigating the service system alone without a protective parent or under the care of child protection services,” Ms Sutton says.
Maribyrnong City Councillor Cuc Lam says “Council encourages continued State and Federal Government collaboration to expand funding for local … homelessness and addiction outreach services.”
Statistically and anecdotally homelessness has risen during Australia’s cost-of-living crisis.
A report released last year by the Council for Homeless Persons found Victoria has seen a 14 per cent increase in people accessing homelessness services.
The 2021 census saw Footscray record the state’s fifth highest population of homeless persons.
Ms Sutton has urged locals to keep abreast of the many homelessness services available in the area and to offer support where possible.
“Services such as MCM are always looking for supporters whether it be through a financial donation or the ability to promote the work that is being done locally,” she says.
More information about inner west homelessness services is available through the Maribyrnong City Council website and on not-for-profit website Ask Izzy.
State MP for Footscray Katie Hall did not respond to requests for comment.
If you or anyone you know needs assistance, support is available through Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, Lifeline on 13 11 14, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander crisis support line 13YARN on 13 92 76.
