Cost of youth homelessness

A new research briefing, The cost of youth homelessness in Australia, has cited a number of AHURI research reports. The research was produced by researchers from the Swinburne University Institute for Social Research, the University of Western Australia and Charles Sturt University in partnership with The Salvation Army, Mission Australia and Anglicare Canberra & Goulburn.

... the costs to the Australian community ... for young people experiencing homelessness is an average of $17,868 per person per year

The research identified that the costs to the Australian community of health and justice services for young people experiencing homelessness is an average of $17,868 per person per year (not including other costs such as lower employment rates etc.). In 2014–15, 41,780 young people aged 15–24 were clients of Specialist Homeless Services, which meant an estimated $747 million of additional health and justice costs to the Australian economy.

The following AHURI research was cited in this research briefing:

• The cost-effectiveness of homelessness programs: a first assessment
• Lifetime and intergenerational experiences of homelessness in Australia
• Pathways from out-of-home care
• The cost of homelessness and the net benefit of homelessness programs: a national study – Findings from the Baseline Client Survey
• The cost of homelessness and the net benefit of homelessness programs: a national study.