Marist180 and Yfoundations are calling for urgent national action to end youth homelessness, spotlighting the strength and resilience of young people with lived experience and exposing the systemic failures driving a growing crisis.
Marist180 is a Catholic organisation that provides programs and services to help young people create positive change in their lives.
It is a member organisation of Yfoundations, the peak body for youth homelessness in New South Wales.
Marist180 supports Yfoundations’ call for a fully funded National Child and Youth Homelessness and Housing Action Plan that truly reflects the complexity and diversity of young people’s needs.
With youth homelessness on the rise across Australia, Marist180 hosted a community event in Western Sydney on Monday to mark Youth Homelessness Matters Day.
The event at Mount Druitt Community Hall brought together local young people, service providers, and community members to celebrate the resilience of youth facing homelessness – and to shine a light on the systems that too often fail to protect them.
“Young people experiencing homelessness need more than a roof over their head – they need safety, stability, privacy, and a sense of control over their lives,” Marist180 chief executive Peter Monaghan said.
“They need access to housing that is safe and affordable, as well as services that support connection to family, education and community.”
Guest speaker Zoë Robinson, NSW Advocate for Children and Young People, echoed the importance of youth-informed solutions, reminding attendees that many young people are not just navigating the absence of housing – but the absence of security and support.
“Young people know what’s needed to make lasting change in their lives and communities. If we truly want to end youth homelessness, we must start by listening to them – their insights should guide the solutions we design and the policies we implement,” Ms Robinson said.
Mr Monaghan said homeless is “not in inevitable – it’s preventable”.
“What young people need is coordinated access to accommodation, family reconciliation services, education pathways and community support. We already know what works. The challenge is delivering it at scale,” Mr Monaghan said.
To support the work of Marist180 this Youth Homelessness Matters Day, visit the Yfoundations website.
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Marist180 – Youth Homelessness Matters (Marist180)
