When I became in Hobart, I thought I was being punished for being born into a broken family, and I believed adults when they told me I was a “kid causing trouble”. But this couldn’t have been further from the truth. No young person chooses to become homeless. But when discrimination and family violence are a daily occurrence and their life or mental health is either in danger or disrupted, what choice do they have?
Like of young Australians, I made the decision to leave my family home due to interpersonal relationship problems, including family violence and parent and adolescent conflict. I tried to work through our issues but my family breakdown was inevitable. No amount of counselling or early prevention services would have convinced me to stay.
No young person chooses to become homeless. But when discrimination and family violence are a daily occurrence and their life or mental health is either in danger or disrupted, what choice do they have?
Once I left my family home, I then had the difficult task of who was willing to rent an apartment to a 17-year-old who relied on government benefits and bar work to pay the rent. At one stage, I was working and survived on Cornflakes while I waited over six weeks to receive the I was eligible for.
I eventually found my feet, but at each milestone in the process—from leaving home to being eligible for government support tobecoming independent—I came up against adults who tried to teach me a lesson in ‘tough love’ or tell me I was to .
I felt like no matter what I said or did I had no power to change my situation because I was always dependent on an adult to make decisions on my behalf.
Rachel Kurzyp worked three casual jobs to support herself as a teenager. Source: Rachel Kurzyp
There are more than children and young people homeless on any given night in Australia, and this number has more than doubled since it was first measured in . But most Australians wouldn’t know the true extent of youth homelessness because not many young people are living on the streets. Instead, young people couch surf. They live in their mate’s spare rooms and garages, and sometimes frequent temporary accommodation or boarding houses. They are Australia’s invisible homeless population.
There are more than 44,000 children and young people homeless on any given night in Australia, and this number has more than doubled since it was first measured in 1989.
Many young people believe it’s better to be invisible because they can hide away from the adults that have hurt them or let them down, I know I did. But this invisibility comes at a cost. While I found comfort in ‘hiding from the world’ to avoid further shame, and trauma, I created a false sense of security. Dealing with everything on my own meant I didn’t seek out mental health and homelessness services that I needed at the time (I realise this now) to help me .
I was only homeless for three months but the experience changed me. I learnt to trust my judgement and intuition, to back myself and make decisions, and to believe that my past didn’t have to be my future. Now, as a 30-year-old writer and communications consultant, I want to help young people be seen and heard so they don’t have to experience the isolation, shame and powerlessness I did when I was homeless.
I believe that children and young people are one of the least powerful groups in our society. Many of our laws treat young people not as people but as the property of their parents or as objects of concern. Our out-dated mean that children rely on adults to speak on their behalf and protect their rights, but what happens when adults won’t or can’t because of reasons like domestic violence or mental illness? And what happens when adults don't permit them to speak and be heard? We only have to look at the unacceptably high levels of unemployment, and homelessness among young Australians to see how badly we’re failing them.
Many of our laws treat young people not as people but as the property of their parents or as objects of concern.
If we want to end youth homelessness we need to give young people jobs, let them rent apartments, and support , homelessness and family services. But more importantly, as a society, we need to listen to them. How can we expect to prevent young people from becoming homeless if we don't value what they have to say on the issue? I wish someone had asked me why I thought leaving my family home in 2004 was the right decision. If they had asked, I would have told them that I realised no one was looking out for my best interests and that the only person I knew I could count on was me.
', a new three-part documentary series, will explore the experience of homelessness when it airs on SBS on Tuesday 27, Wednesday 28 and Thursday 29 June at 8.30pm. Each show will be available to view on after broadcast.
If this article has raised issues for you and you would like to talk to someone, please on 13 11 14 or visit their website by . For information about services from St Vincent De Paul, or for services offered by Salvation Army,
