‘You need your own safe space’: Care leavers
This article was first published in The Melbourne Anglican on 21 May 2025.
More than a third of young people leaving state-run care immediately become homeless, advocates say.
Anglicare Victoria and Homelessness Australia said a lack of housing options and financial support were among the reasons young people faced blockages to affordable housing.
They called on Housing Australia to give housing preference to those leaving care.
Anglicare Victoria chief executive Paul McDonald said care leavers should be prioritised because they were under the formal guardianship of the government.
Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said 15 per cent of people who sought homeless services were unaccompanied young people.
“Less than three per cent of tenancies in social housing go to young people,” Ms Colvin said.
She said it was difficult to provide the housing and support for care leavers because of funding silos and challenges between federal and state governments.
Housing Australia chief executive Scott Langford said the federal government recognised there was insufficient supply for crisis and transitional accommodation.
Twenty-year old Ebony Zarb said housing was the most important issue for young people leaving care.
Ms Zarb couch-surfed for years while caring for her two younger brothers before getting independent community housing last year.
“I was always moving around…there was too much chaos,” she said. “You need your own safe space. That way you can keep progressing in your life and you can see the future.”
Mia Green-Mullet first entered the foster system when she was 13 years old, after being homeless for two years, and became independent when she was 17.
“I was paying the rent because I had a rental and had $40 for the week for food and anything else I needed,” Ms Mullet said.
She was able to receive developmental support through Home Stretch but was not eligible for financial assistance until she turned 18.
Timothy Noakes said getting connected with community and culture was his biggest struggle.
Apart from cultural isolation, Mr Noakes said the lack of connection affected his ability to do things like get his driver’s licence or a job.
“I’m having to do it all by myself, which I have achieved,” he said. “But sometimes it does kind of break you down a bit.”
Responding to the latest Victorian state budget, Council to Homeless Persons chief executive Deborah Di Natale said the housing crisis was engulfing the state and more needed to be done in this deepening crisis.
Image credit: Young people discuss their experiences of homelessness on leaving state-run care. Picture: Lesa Scholl
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