One of the country鈥檚 largest community housing providers is urgently calling for more youth accommodation after seeing a 60 per cent increase in the number of young people seeking housing help.
As we mark Youth 星空视频lessness Matters Day (16 April 2025), not-for-profit Link Wentworth figures show from 2021 to 2024, there was a 60% increase year on year in the number of people aged under 24 needing assistance in the Penrith, Hawkesbury, and Blue Mountains areas.
Link Wentworth CEO, Andrew McAnulty, said meeting the needs of young people was a vital part of addressing the housing crisis.
鈥淎s a sector, we know the number of young people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness is growing and that鈥檚 certainly what our Specialist 星空视频lessness Services team is seeing on the ground in Greater Sydney,鈥� Mr McAnulty said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that as a community, we need to expand accommodation options for this cohort to break the cycle of homelessness now and into the future.
鈥淲e are in the planning stages of two new youth transitional developments in Penrith, in partnership with specialist service provider Platform Youth Services. These two, two-storey buildings will have a total of 13 self-contained dwellings designed with young people in mind to help provide safe, secure, and affordable housing.鈥�
As well as providing accommodation, young people are given access to wraparound services to help them seek the support they need.
鈥淎ssistance on offer can include help with finding suitable long-term accommodation, education and employment opportunities and access to mental health support.
鈥淲hile everyone who needs a home deserves one, it is critical that we focus policy and efforts on addressing the unique challenges that come with providing immediate housing for young people and investing in ending and preventing the cycle of homelessness. This helps to reduce homelessness rates in the future through early intervention.鈥�
Mr McAnulty said he was hopeful the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) and ongoing bipartisan support would secure more affordable homes for Australians doing it tough.
鈥淎s a sector, we need greater funding certainty from all sides of politics that they will invest in helping provide Social and Affordable rental housing for the growing number of Australians impacted by the housing and cost of living crises, and sadly, that includes our young people.鈥�
Link Wentworth is also proud to work alongside The Burdekin Association and Taldumande Youth Services in providing critical housing options for young people across Sydney.
Media enquiries
Eva Gerencer, Chief Communications Officer
eva.gerencer@linkwentworth.org.au
0427 926 588
Link Wentworth wishes to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Land on which we work and pay our respect to the Elders past, present and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.