Forum focuses on youth homelessness

Wednesday’s “End Homelessness for Good” sector forum, hosted by The Salvation Army in partnership with GOTAFE, placed youth homelessness at the forefront of discussions as part of Homelessness Week 2024, which runs from August 5 to 11.

The Bridge Youth Service Program Manager Renae Ford was a panellist at the forum, which also included event MC and Goulburn Ovens Murray Homelessness Network Coordinator Renee Murtagh, Tarmara Flanagan from The Salvation Army’s Northeast Victoria Youth Service, Peter McGrath, State Manager for Homelessness Services in Victoria at The Salvation Army, and Jasmine, a resident of Shepparton Education First Youth Foyer.

Some alarming numbers raised at the forum included:

  • 436 people without a home in Shepparton on any given night;
  • homelessness affects 59 people per 10,000 of the population in the Greater Shepparton area, making it 23rd out of 88 Victorian electorates;
  • since the last Census, homelessness has increased by 17.2%; and
  • In 2022 to 2023 in Greater Shepparton, 838 people were homeless, 397 of those were men, 69 were 19 years and under, 443 were women and 93 were 19 years and under.

Jasmine provided a powerful account of her personal experience with homelessness, sparking a dynamic and passionate discussion.

The panel not only explored actionable strategies to end homelessness in our region, but also addressed the critical need to overcome stigma associated with homelessness, emphasising that understanding and empathy are essential in driving meaningful change.

“We need to reduce the stigma and build our community awareness,” Ms Ford said.

“While we (the Bridge Youth Service) are focused on providing services, it’s vital for the community to understand and advocate for the realities of homelessness and its impact.”

Audience questions highlighted interest in community involvement and the role of Greater Shepparton City Council in providing additional support. Notable attendees included Federal Member for Nichols Sam Birrell, State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe, and State Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell.

“The theme of what we’re hearing today is the importance of education, reducing stigma, and uniting our efforts,” Ms Ford said.

The Bridge Youth Service acknowledges the traditional owners of the lands on which we work: the Yorta Yorta Nations, Taungurung and Wurundjeri people. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present. We extend our respects to all Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people that call these lands home. We acknowledge and recognise their enduring connection to this land, its waterways and skies. We affirm that sovereignty was never ceded, and this always was and always will be Aboriginal land.

© Copyright The Bridge Youth Service 2024.