Hailey would often joke to her teachers that she couldn't do her homework because she didn't have a home.When Hailey's family found an eviction notice on the doorstep of their home in The Channon, in northern New South Wales, in early 2021 life changed."Mum would apply for literally everything on the market … and everything got knocked back," Hailey says.
Struggling to access the basics like a shower, electricity, and hot food, Hailey says things like a school maths test suddenly didn't seem important."I stopped looking after myself entirely and I shut out the world.It's estimated 122,494 people experience homelessness each night in Australia, according to Census data.Advocacy groups say the most common causes of youth homelessness are domestic and family violence, poverty, and the housing crisis.
Ms Ackerman says experiencing homelessness can also have a big impact on a young person's education, employment, and career opportunities. Housing, homelessness, and employment program manager Lucie White says a lot of the region's affordable housing was destroyed during the 2022 flood, particularly in Lismore.During a national housing shortage, Ms White says young people, who are dealing with homelessness alone, face additional barriers because landlords are often reluctant to rent properties to a young person.