Improving housing outcomes for young people leaving state out of home care
Summary
This project explored the effectiveness of current transitional support models in facilitating positive housing outcomes for young people leaving care. In Australia approximately 1700 people leave state care every year and are among the most vulnerable and disadvantaged members of the community. Care leavers are seriously disadvantaged in the structure of the Australian housing market – public housing is hard to obtain and care leavers struggle to enter and remain in the private rental market. In depth interviews with 77 care leavers found that the majority of young people (59 of the 77) experienced a ‘volatile transition’ from care. They struggled to find and maintain appropriate housing with the result that chronic housing instability and homelessness were common outcomes. Half of these however, showed an improvement in their circumstances over time. The research found that the best opportunity to make a smooth transition to independent living rests on a joined up approach to transition planning that begins well before the age of 18, combined with readily available post-care support and assistance.
Project Number: 30540
Research Theme: Homelessness, Social_wellbeing
Project Leader: Johnson, Guy
Funding Year: 2008
Research Centre: RMIT-NATSEM
Research & Policy Bulletin
Issue 131: Pathways from out-of-home care
Young people leaving out-of-home care face a high risk of falling into homelessness. Successful outcomes are linked to transition planning starting before the age of 18 combined with readily available support and assistance and appropriate housing options.
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301 KB PDF Document
More Information
Positioning Paper: No. 117: Improving housing outcomes for young people leaving state out of home care
313 KB PDF Document
Final Report: No. 147: Pathways from out-of-home care
442 KB PDF Document
Research and Policy Bulletin: Issue 131: Pathways from out-of-home care
301 KB PDF Document
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