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Homelessness: blanket solutions don’t apply

07 Aug 05:40am

Filed under: Homelessness, International Youth Day, Mental Illness, Society, Youth

This week is Homeless Person’s Week and for seven days coins will be collected, awareness raised and pledges made to reduce the number of Australians who don’t have a place to call home.

Sleeping rough. Photo: Nicholas Welsh.

Recent research from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare puts that figure at more than 100,000, of which almost half are under the age of 25. On the 12th of August, Homeless Person’s Week and International Youth Day will collide, prompting consideration of some of the most vulnerable in our community: those who are both young and homeless.

Complex combinations of mental illness, low levels of education, family breakdown, financial struggles, and a severe lack of services leave homeless young people in a precarious situation.

Continue reading "Homelessness: blanket solutions don’t apply" »

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Pioneer Stock says:

11:10am | 08/08/12

What about families living on the street or in a car because of job loss and unable to pay their mortgage or rent, compassion and empathy and a helping hand is needed urgently, always remember Charity begins at home, God Bless all these poor souls, Please Gillard look after our… Read more »
jade (the other one) says:

08:49am | 08/08/12

@Janey - are you seriously going to deny that drug addiction, and long-term use does not lead to mental illness? Really? I don’t doubt that some sufferers of mental illness choose to self-medicate using drugs, as I stated. But I seriously doubt that this is the majority of drug addicts.… Read more »

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