Please enjoy this Q&A article with Judy Barraclough, CEO of Youth Off The Streets.
Youth Off The Streets have been a Future Generation Australia partner since inception. Can you share with us a brief overview of your organisation?
Youth Off The Streets is a not-for-profit youth services organisation that supports children and young people aged 12–24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and complex disadvantage.
Founded by Father Chris Riley over 30 years ago, we have grown into an organisation of dedicated experts providing wraparound services in metropolitan and regional NSW and QLD. We walk alongside each young person, seeking to understand their needs and goals, and offering safety, support and educational opportunities to help them to realise their potential.
Youth Off The Streets is an inclusive, community-focused organisation with a unique service model that is trauma-informed and culturally responsive.
We offer a range of services to support children and young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, including crisis accommodation and housing services, accredited alternative high schools, cultural and wellbeing support for First Nations children and young people, domestic and family violence education and support, and youth drop-in centres and community outreach.
The cost-of-living crisis has continued to escalate over the last couple of years. Have you seen these mounting financial pressures having an impact on young Australians faced with housing insecurity?
As the cost-of-living crisis grows, so too does its devastating impact on children and young people, who lack the financial capacity to meet these costs. According to the last census, almost one-quarter of the reported homeless population in Australia is aged 12–24.
In recent years, inadequate income support, a lack of social housing and an increasingly expensive private rental market have been preventing many young Australians – especially those living below the poverty line – from finding permanent housing.
Of the young people who accessed Youth Off The Streets’ Inner West Homelessness Service in 2023, 86% reported an income below the poverty line. 64% received support to sustain a tenancy or prevent eviction.
The consequences are lasting. For example, young people may have no choice but to remain in situations of family or domestic violence – a leading cause of homelessness – experiencing negative impacts on their health and wellbeing and disengaging from education or employment. In this climate, housing insecurity can create long-term cycles of homelessness that are extremely difficult to escape.
Over the five years to 2028, we are committed to combatting this problem by building our holistic and evidence-based homelessness, housing, education and First Nations services to support 60% more children and young people experiencing homelessness.
Our partnership with Future Generations Australia is key to reaching this goal.
What is some of the recent work of Youth Off The Streets that has moved and impacted you?
We are seeing more and more young people impacted by domestic and family violence (DFV). More than 90% of the children and young people supported by Youth Off The Streets have been exposed to DFV, either personally or within their home. This has a devastating effect and can be a direct cause of homelessness.
The impact of DFV on these children and young people is heartbreaking. We are proud to walk alongside these brave young people. Youth Off The Streets has dedicated counsellors and youth workers who support these young people, helping them understand their situation, working with them to ensure they are safe and creating paths for them to reengage with school, employment and their community.
When confronted with adversity, what instils you with hope – and what should we be keeping in mind moving into the future?
The resilience of the children and young people we work with is incredibly inspiring. Their challenges are due to their circumstances, not choice. We recognise the strength and potential that is already within every child and young person despite their circumstances. The support of FGX enables Youth Off The Streets to work with these young people to help them unlock their potential.
Seeing young people rise above their challenges fills us with hope. Join with us to give these children and young people the chance for a better future.
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