CLICHED images of homelessness, such as children sleeping in alleyways, obscure the scale of youth homelessness because it’s a much broader issue, says Youth Coalition of the ACT executive director Justin Barker. 

A new magazine to be launched in Ainslie on Youth Homelessness Matters Day, Wednesday, April 17, will urge people to “reimagine” youth homelessness.

“Young people are sleeping in cars, they’re couch-surfing and they’re relying on unsafe accommodation, including unsafe home environments,” Justin says.

“Australia needs a national plan to address not just the immediate issue of young people needing to find food and a place to sleep, but also to address the causes and consequences of youth homelessness.”

“Reimagine” magazine will include stories, interviews, artworks and poetry from young people who have experienced homelessness, as well as youth workers.

“Reimagine” editor and director of policy and development at the Youth Coalition of the ACT, Hannah Watts says this one-off publication was produced by the Youth Coalition of the ACT in partnership with youth homelessness services to celebrate Youth Homelessness Matters Day.

“Reimagine is a celebration of young people’s strength. We want readers to reimagine how they see youth homelessness, and we hope this magazine will help to reshape their, understandings of the resilience of young people who experience homelessness,” she says.

The 2018 Youth Homelessness Matters Day campaign is calling for a national action plan to support young homeless Australians. Despite the 28,000 young people experiencing homelessness, there is no national plan to address youth homelessness in Australia.

“Reimagine” will be launched tomorrow, April 17, at a Youth Homelessness Matters Day afternoon tea, at the Canberra Youth Residential Service, 21A Chaffey Crescent, Ainslie. 

 

 

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