| It is impossible to state
exactly how many homeless children there now are. But it
is clear that the number of homeless young people has
been rising, and that the proportion of children among
them has been increasing. Children actually living on the street are not the only ones who are homeless. We now have a situation where many move between crisis refuges, which only permit short stays. This unstable "refuge-hopping" lifestyle which government programs have encouraged actually makes many children’s problems worse. Thousands of our children now live in appalling conditions in squats. Others sleep in doorways, drains, clothing bins, car parks, under bridges and behind factories. Homeless children are very vulnerable to exploitation particularly in the drug trade and tourist industry. Very few are able to complete their education or get a job. Thousands are in appalling ill health. Many also suffer mental illnesses or have serious psychological problems. Thousands use drugs and alcohol as a means of escape. Because their plight is so hopeless, and because they have been made to feel so worthless, they often attempt suicide. Tragically, many succeed. Most reasons why children leave home are complex. Some leave to seek work or because they want independence. But the evidence examined in the government inquiry clearly establishes that many children leave because they have no real choice, because serious abuse, sustained family conflict or complete family breakdown. Central to this issue is the incredible tension between parents and children over rights and responsibilities. Brothers Shane and Chris, who’s parents split up
and re-partnered claim, "Why should kids stick
around when parents |
Most experts involved with
the homeless allowance, deny the benefit lures children away
from home for the fun of the taxpayer-subsidised joyride.
Many parents, however, believe this is exactly what the system
has done by promoting in schools and social security
shopfronts, the lure of no-strings-attached pocket money. The federal government has launched a two-year pilot scheme to encourage mediation between youths and parents. The programme involves welfare organisations which would assist in the mediation and placement of youths with family members. Senator Newman, minister of family affairs, said recent advice from her department indicated reforms by the previous Labor Government had failed and many youths languished in a "black hole". "I’m ashamed and I just worry for our future when we’ve got youngsters in high numbers who are not loved and who are discarded, not just by their own family, but by the society generally. To have kids sleeping on park benches and living in doss houses in Kings Cross, on drugs - that’s not what we want. Advice from major welfare groups on recent reforms to youth homeless allowance protocols indicate the pressing need for a summit on homelessness." she said. After carefully weighing all the available evidence, it is concluded that there are now, conservatively estimated, between 20,000 and 25,000 homeless children and young people aged under 18 across Australia. Of these, approximately 8,000 to 9,000 are in the 12 to 15 age group. There are estimated to be up to 70,000 children and young people homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The government and minister of family affairs both agree, that people should start working together about homelessness before it’s too late. Jodie |