The Victorian Greens have launched their plan for a Youth Housing Guarantee in an election bid to reduce the high rates of youth homelessness across the state.
The Youth Housing Guarantee would see Victorians under the age of 25 guaranteed appropriate housing when presenting to a homelessness service.
To help fund the plan the Greens have committed $100 million dollars to housing and homelessness services over the forward estimates.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam, said it was unacceptable that over one in four Victorians experiencing homelessness were aged between 12 and 24.
She said for too long both major parties had chronically underfunded our housing and homelessness services and refused to invest in more public and affordable homes.
There are increasingly high rates of youth homelessness in Victoria, often due to family breakdown and family violence.
Due to the severe shortage of affordable and appropriate housing options for young people, young people experiencing homelessness often end up in unsuitable housing such as rooming houses or overcrowded short-term accommodation.
Experiencing periods of homelessness at a young age is also a strong predictor of experiencing homelessness later in life, and increases the likelihood of poor physical and mental health, substance abuse and interactions with the justice system.
The Greens’ plan would ensure young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness in Victoria could be connected with appropriate support and services, such as specialist youth accommodation.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Samantha Ratnam MLC said:
“We are in a housing crisis and young people are some of the hardest hit.
“Up to 25,000 Victorians experience homelessness on any given night and one in four of them are under 25.
“Our Youth Housing Guarantee would make sure that young people who present to a homelessness service will get access to safe, specialist youth housing.
“We don’t need more band-aid solutions – we need a guarantee that the next government will end youth homelessness.”