Young and homeless in rural South Australia

Youth homelessness is widely acknowledged as an area of concern and it has received reasonable focus and research attention in metropolitan areas. However, the particular concerns and needs of rural youth have not generally been investigated or documented. This is despite many rural young people experiencing problems relating to their accommodation or lack of it. Some of the problems that particularly apply to rural youth are a lack of accommodation options, unemployment, greater distances to travel, fewer services to access, and often having to live in 'concealed households' in order to secure a roof over their heads. Many homeless young people in the country have to live in 'concealed households', that is, with their parents, friends, or relatives, as they cannot access housing of their own (Streich et al. 2002). This is particularly problematic for many Australian Indigenous young people in rural and remote communities who regularly reside with friends or relatives as they cannot, or choose not to, access their own accommodation. They are also susceptible to moving into the category of 'literal homeless or rooflessness' quite easily if relationships breakdown in the household or if they are asked to leave (Streich et al. 2002). This places a number of young people in the country as being 'at risk' of homelessness, if not indeed homeless, on a regular basis.