❓ I refer to youth homelessness, and I ask:(a) What are the current metrics used by the State Government to determine levels of youth homelessness;(b) What challenges have been identified in tackling yo
AnsweredQoN 2310Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to youth homelessness, and I ask:(a) What are the current metrics used by the State Government to determine levels of youth homelessness;(b) What challenges have been identified in tackling youth homelessness;(c) What funding currently goes towards youth homelessness;(d) How much of this funding is allocated to Geraldton;(e) Which agencies and/or organisations deliver youth homelessness services in Geraldton;(f) How do the above-mentioned agencies and organisations collate and report youth homelessness data; and(g) Does the State government use this data in reporting of youth homelessness across WA?
I refer to youth homelessness, and I ask:
(a) What are the current metrics used by the State Government to determine levels of youth homelessness;
(b) What challenges have been identified in tackling youth homelessness;
(c) What funding currently goes towards youth homelessness;
(d) How much of this funding is allocated to Geraldton;
(e) Which agencies and/or organisations deliver youth homelessness services in Geraldton;
(f) How do the above-mentioned agencies and organisations collate and report youth homelessness data; and
(g) Does the State government use this data in reporting of youth homelessness across WA?
I refer to youth homelessness, and I ask:
(a) What are the current metrics used by the State Government to determine levels of youth homelessness;
(b) What challenges have been identified in tackling youth homelessness;
(c) What funding currently goes towards youth homelessness;
(d) How much of this funding is allocated to Geraldton;
(e) Which agencies and/or organisations deliver youth homelessness services in Geraldton;
(f) How do the above-mentioned agencies and organisations collate and report youth homelessness data; and
(g) Does the State government use this data in reporting of youth homelessness across WA?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
9 June 2026
Responded by
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment; Community Services; Homelessness
Response time
8 days
(a) The State Government uses a range of data sources to understand and monitor youth homelessness, including Australian Bureau of Statistics Census homelessness estimates, Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) data, By Name List (BNL) data, service provider reporting, and engagement with homelessness service providers.
There is no single real-time figure that captures the number of young people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is dynamic, is drawn from multiple sources and not all persons who experience homelessness make themselves known to those that collect data.
The most reliable point in time collection of data is the Australian Census. Census 2021 was released on 22 March 2023 and indicates the number of young people aged 12 to 24 experiencing homelessness was 1,921 in 2016, and 1,925 in 2021. This age group was 20 per cent of all homeless people in 2021. The next Australian Census will take place on August 11, 2026.
(b) Youth homelessness is a complex issue caused by a combination of social, economic and personal factors. Youth homelessness does not always mean rough sleeping on the streets, it can present as ‘hidden homelessness’ through young people moving between friend’s houses, overcrowded homes or temporary accommodation.
(c) In 2025-26 the Department of Communities budgeted over $25 million on youth homelessness services, including accommodation and support services to assist young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The 2026-27 State Budget builds on this investment with an additional $20.3 million to deliver 54 new accommodation places for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Youth homelessness is a complex issue that requires a whole-of-government response. Alongside targeted homelessness services, the State Government continues to invest across housing, education, health, child protection, family and domestic violence, and youth justice to address the drivers of homelessness and support early intervention.
(d) – (e)
Short Term Accommodation for Youth provides supported crisis and transitional accommodation for young people aged 15-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Geraldton and surrounds. In the 2025-26 Financial Year, the Department of Communities will provide $1,170,433 towards this service.
(f) Information about individuals who are referred to or seek assistance from homelessness services funded under the National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness (NASHH) is collected as part of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) data collection. Additionally, in some locations, service provider reporting feeds into By Name Lists.
(g) The State government uses this data to assist in making informed decisions on policies, funding and support services aimed at preventing and reducing youth homelessness in Western Australia.
There is no single real-time figure that captures the number of young people experiencing homelessness. Homelessness is dynamic, is drawn from multiple sources and not all persons who experience homelessness make themselves known to those that collect data.
The most reliable point in time collection of data is the Australian Census. Census 2021 was released on 22 March 2023 and indicates the number of young people aged 12 to 24 experiencing homelessness was 1,921 in 2016, and 1,925 in 2021. This age group was 20 per cent of all homeless people in 2021. The next Australian Census will take place on August 11, 2026.
(b) Youth homelessness is a complex issue caused by a combination of social, economic and personal factors. Youth homelessness does not always mean rough sleeping on the streets, it can present as ‘hidden homelessness’ through young people moving between friend’s houses, overcrowded homes or temporary accommodation.
(c) In 2025-26 the Department of Communities budgeted over $25 million on youth homelessness services, including accommodation and support services to assist young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
The 2026-27 State Budget builds on this investment with an additional $20.3 million to deliver 54 new accommodation places for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Youth homelessness is a complex issue that requires a whole-of-government response. Alongside targeted homelessness services, the State Government continues to invest across housing, education, health, child protection, family and domestic violence, and youth justice to address the drivers of homelessness and support early intervention.
(d) – (e)
Short Term Accommodation for Youth provides supported crisis and transitional accommodation for young people aged 15-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Geraldton and surrounds. In the 2025-26 Financial Year, the Department of Communities will provide $1,170,433 towards this service.
(f) Information about individuals who are referred to or seek assistance from homelessness services funded under the National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness (NASHH) is collected as part of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) data collection. Additionally, in some locations, service provider reporting feeds into By Name Lists.
(g) The State government uses this data to assist in making informed decisions on policies, funding and support services aimed at preventing and reducing youth homelessness in Western Australia.
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