❓ Hon Lynn MacLaren questions the Minister for Child Protection about youth homelessness statistics, trends, and government actions. The Minister provides data and outlines funding and programs aimed at prevention and intervention.
AnsweredQoN 408Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
YOUTH
HOMELESSNESS
408. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Child Protection:
(1) Can the
minister confirm the statistic revealed at a recent forum hosted by Shelter WA
that 50 per cent of homeless people are young people?
(2) Is the
minister aware that if a person is homeless before the age of 25, that person
is likely to struggle in and out of homelessness throughout their life?
(3) Is the
minister aware that Western Australia was the only Australian state to see an
increase in the number of homeless people, with the number rising from 18 per 1
000 people in 2001 to 21 per 1 000 people in 2006?
(4) Will the minister detail the steps being taken to —
(a) prevent youth homelessness;
and
(b) intervene
to address the cycle of economic disadvantage and inexperience, along with
stigma and discrimination, that are behind WA's youth homelessness
figures?
HOMELESSNESS
408. Hon LYNN MacLAREN to the Minister for Child Protection:
(1) Can the
minister confirm the statistic revealed at a recent forum hosted by Shelter WA
that 50 per cent of homeless people are young people?
(2) Is the
minister aware that if a person is homeless before the age of 25, that person
is likely to struggle in and out of homelessness throughout their life?
(3) Is the
minister aware that Western Australia was the only Australian state to see an
increase in the number of homeless people, with the number rising from 18 per 1
000 people in 2001 to 21 per 1 000 people in 2006?
(4) Will the minister detail the steps being taken to —
(a) prevent youth homelessness;
and
(b) intervene
to address the cycle of economic disadvantage and inexperience, along with
stigma and discrimination, that are behind WA's youth homelessness
figures?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question.
(1) The latest
available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics ''Counting the
Homeless 2006'' census data indicated that across Western Australia 13 391
people were homeless. This includes 2 392 people sleeping rough. Of the 13 391
homeless people, 6 558, or 49 per cent, were under the age of 25 years; 4 280
were aged 12 to 18 years; and 1 062 were aged 19 to 24 years.
(2) I am
advised that about 40 per cent of people who are homeless as adults were first
homeless as young people.
(3) Yes. The
increase in Western Australia was highlighted in the report ''Youth
Homelessness in Australia 2006'' produced by David MacKenzie and Chris
Chamberlain in 2008.
(4) (a) In 2011–12,
the Department for Child Protection has provided funding of $12.6 million per
annum for 29 services for homeless young people in Western Australia, including
24 services providing medium and long-term crisis accommodation for young
people. The National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness has provided
additional funding for innovative programs to address youth homelessness. This
includes services that aim to intervene early and the prevention of
homelessness with a focus on integration with education, employment and
training. The NPAH programs for young people are a supportive housing option
for young women leaving child protection service; a foyer development that will
provide secure housing and on-site support services for up to 100 young people,
including 35 young people who are at risk or are experiencing homelessness,
which should be in operation by the end of July; a housing support worker
program for young people exiting corrective facilities; housing support worker
programs for people, including young people, exiting homelessness crisis
accommodation, mental health inpatient units and drug and alcohol treatment.
(b) State funding of over $5.2 million per
annum is provided for 55 services for a range of mobile, centre-based and
outreach services for young people at risk and leaving care.
Homelessness
is a serious community issue, often caused by complex interrelated personal,
social and economic factors. Family and relationship breakdown, mental illness,
domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, and disability may lead to
homelessness. Coupled with a shortage of affordable housing and unemployment,
homelessness may become entrenched.
The Western Australian homelessness state plan outlines the key
principles for implementing an improved integrated approach to homelessness and
aims to bring together the relevant agencies and services to work together to
improve circumstances for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. For
the first time in this state $135 million over four years has been put in that
NPA program.
(1) The latest
available data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics ''Counting the
Homeless 2006'' census data indicated that across Western Australia 13 391
people were homeless. This includes 2 392 people sleeping rough. Of the 13 391
homeless people, 6 558, or 49 per cent, were under the age of 25 years; 4 280
were aged 12 to 18 years; and 1 062 were aged 19 to 24 years.
(2) I am
advised that about 40 per cent of people who are homeless as adults were first
homeless as young people.
(3) Yes. The
increase in Western Australia was highlighted in the report ''Youth
Homelessness in Australia 2006'' produced by David MacKenzie and Chris
Chamberlain in 2008.
(4) (a) In 2011–12,
the Department for Child Protection has provided funding of $12.6 million per
annum for 29 services for homeless young people in Western Australia, including
24 services providing medium and long-term crisis accommodation for young
people. The National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness has provided
additional funding for innovative programs to address youth homelessness. This
includes services that aim to intervene early and the prevention of
homelessness with a focus on integration with education, employment and
training. The NPAH programs for young people are a supportive housing option
for young women leaving child protection service; a foyer development that will
provide secure housing and on-site support services for up to 100 young people,
including 35 young people who are at risk or are experiencing homelessness,
which should be in operation by the end of July; a housing support worker
program for young people exiting corrective facilities; housing support worker
programs for people, including young people, exiting homelessness crisis
accommodation, mental health inpatient units and drug and alcohol treatment.
(b) State funding of over $5.2 million per
annum is provided for 55 services for a range of mobile, centre-based and
outreach services for young people at risk and leaving care.
Homelessness
is a serious community issue, often caused by complex interrelated personal,
social and economic factors. Family and relationship breakdown, mental illness,
domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse, and disability may lead to
homelessness. Coupled with a shortage of affordable housing and unemployment,
homelessness may become entrenched.
The Western Australian homelessness state plan outlines the key
principles for implementing an improved integrated approach to homelessness and
aims to bring together the relevant agencies and services to work together to
improve circumstances for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. For
the first time in this state $135 million over four years has been put in that
NPA program.
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