As stated by Laura Nuttall MLA, ACT Greens spokesperson for young people
"All Canberrans have a right to a roof over their head, but the Labor Government simply isn't doing enough to ensure that young people have a place to call home.
This week, the Woden Youth Foyer finally opened, but only after sitting empty for over nine months. This was despite the number of crisis beds for young people shrinking and the wait times for these beds growing over the last two years.
We know young people are sleeping rough across this city, and falling through the cracks of a system that should be supporting them. We also know what these young people need: a roof over their head and wrap-around support to make sure they don't fall back into homelessness.
What we don't know is the full extent of the issue as the government doesn't collect the relevant data, and we don't know how the government is actually going to address it.
That's why my motion calls on the government to develop a specific youth homelessness strategy which will help to both better understand the scale of the issue and to actually address it.
This strategy must cover everything from early intervention, public education and data collection through to support for priority cohorts and safer, more extensive housing options for young people experiencing homelessness.
The calls for action on this have come from young people who have experienced homelessness and those who work on the front lines in supporting them. It is absolutely essential that the government works with these providers and young people to co-design this strategy.
Youth homelessness is not inevitable. It is the result of gaps in systems which we have the power and duty to fix. When we fail to act, the consequences follow young people for years.
In the ACT, we have affirmed that housing is a human right. Developing and implementing a strategy to tackle youth homelessness is a critical step to realising this right for Canberra's young people."
As stated by Hannah Watts, CEO, Youth Coalition of the ACT
"Every young person deserves a safe and stable place to call home. We welcome the Motion put forward by Miss Nuttall, MLA, as an important step toward a dedicated youth homelessness strategy for the ACT.
A youth homelessness strategy should ensure young people can access support when they need it. To be effective, this strategy must be shaped through genuine collaboration between government and community services, and take a whole-of-government and whole-of-community approach.
Addressing youth homelessness is not the responsibility of any one service or portfolio. It is a shared commitment by the Canberra community to ensuring all young people have the housing and support they need to thrive. What we need now is a clear, actionable roadmap that turns this commitment into real outcomes for young people across Canberra."
