Youth Homeless Matters Day is next Wednesday, April 16. This day raises awareness about a situation that, according to the last census, affects nearly 300 youth in the Northern Rivers.

Tony Davies, CEO of Social Futures, said that number had grown massively since the floods and by 4% in the last few months, according to their data.

"There are a whole range of things that contribute to that. Usually, when young people don't have somewhere to live, it's because there are issues going on in their family life at home. I mean, they can't live safely at home. So, it's really important that we put those resources in place to ensure that young people have the best chance to have a go.

"We know that if you can get people into good housing, they'll be able to continue with their education, get work, and time and time again, as the youth homelessness service here in the Northern Rivers and here in Lismore, we see the amazing outcomes and support for young people get. It just really blows me away.

This year, leading into Youth Homelessness Matters Day, Social Futures, supported by Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, is asking people to donate an hour's pay to raise funds to help our youth by providing support and structure in keeping their lives together.

"By donating an hour's pay, what you can do is actually help young people get the things they need. It's about them getting personal items. It's about helping them with transport. It's about helping them with education, and it also shows young people that they really matter to us, and that we as a community care for them," Mr Davies said.

"There are some other things that can be done as well. We'd love it if the federal government would raise Youth Allowance and Job Seeker. We also really need our governments to invest in more dedicated youth housing, but if everyone in the community gets behind our young people, we can ensure that our whole community has an amazing future for the amazing young people that make up our Northern Rivers community.

"It's harder and harder for young people to get into the private rental market. Just because the cost of rental is so high, young people tend to have lower wages. If they're on Youth Allowance because they're studying, they get less than even a job seeker. So, they just can't afford to get into housing or even share accommodation. And so, we know that if we can invest in support, that'll make such a difference to their lives."

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin reiterated the important point of making sure that our young people have a home.

"A home gives young people the ability to create a life around themselves and family that they do have, and we know that for young people, that can be a real challenge, but I'm here to support social futures shine a light on the fact that we need to step up and help young people wherever we can.

"Social Futures are calling on the community at large to donate one hour's pay that will help with some of those extras. Obviously, that won't resolve all of the homelessness, but it's really to shine a light on the need in our community, and I understand what it's like for young people who are in that situation. I mean, it's a long time ago, but I know through my background what that's like to have someone, an organisation, step up and support you and take you through all the things that you need.

"I know with young people, they're going through changes in their life, big changes, developing and all of that. I also know for some of the young girls, just even getting access to sanitary products and things like that can be a real challenge, things that we take for granted, and that's why I'm here, really, to back Social Futures."

Tony Davies explained how Social Futures supports 600-700 young people each year across the Northern Rivers.

"When a young person comes to us, one of our caseworkers will be able to engage with them one on one, understand what's going on there in their lives, understand what are some of the barriers that they have to be able to continue in education or to get into work, to get transport, and then they'll work through them.

"Sometimes it's as simple as helping people get the identification, helping them get some sort of income. And then, a lot of it is also that support, motivational support, so that people actually know that they've got someone in their corner. Because, as I said before, young people, often don't have a place to call home, it's through no fault of their own, and they need an adult in their corner to help them with that.

"It makes such a difference. We have so many stories of young people who, due to what's been going on in their lives, they haven't been able to make it to school, they haven't been able to make it to work, and they've had to deal with trauma. And remember, if you're a young person in the Northern Rivers, you've been through multiple major floods, fires, and the pandemic in the last seven years, and so there's a lot that we need to unpack and support our young people.

" The young people themselves are incredible. We see young people finish their education, get into work. We see young people get a driver's license and some get a car. It mightn't be the best car, but it means they can drive and get to work. We see young people actually able to engage, to re-engage with their families, to work through the issues there, to essentially lay the foundations for a really successful life in which they contribute so much more back to the community.

"It's always an incredible privilege to be able to see just how brilliant young people of this region are."

18-year-old Jazmyn Kilburn told her story to the media today, highlighting the role that Social Futures has played in the last three years of her life.

"I became homeless at 16 because I left home due to a family breakdown, and I didn't think it was going to be challenging. I wasn't aware of some of the challenges that I would come across. I had to try and access my own payments through Centrelink, and then I had to find things, basic things, like my ID, and I also had to find places to sleep.

"I couch-surfed. I ended up in Link2Home accommodation for a decent amount of time. I actually dropped out of school and then went back after life was a bit less hectic. But it was harder than I thought it was going to be.

Jazmyn first got in touch with Social Futures when she was 17.

"I had case workers, and they became like my family. They really did, hey, they taught me how to do basic things like setting up electricity in a transitional flat. I didn't know how to do that. I didn't know that I was meant to do simple things like that.

"I've got a rental now. After getting a transitional through Social Futures, I then moved on to a Rent Choice Youth Subsidy, and I've just been able to secure my first rental. So that's very exciting and different. It makes me feel like I've got stability Like, it's so good knowing I have a safe place to go to every day, that I can hold my own, and that I don't have to worry about that stuff anymore.

Jazmyn is studying an Assistant's Agent Course hoping to work in real estate in the future, and, with a big smile on her face, announced she had just secured employment at her local IGA.

Having been through a great deal in the last three years, what is Jazmyn's advice to other young people who need help?

"It's okay to ask for help, and it's okay to not know what you're doing. But, just ask for help because it is there. I know I was scared to ask for help before I did."

Luckily for Jazmyn, she knew people at school who were going through similar experiences.

"They were like, Hey, have you heard Social Futures can help? It was actually my peers, and my teachers, and my school counsellor that helped me to get linked with Social Futures, and I'm so grateful that happened because I don't know what my life would look like at the moment if I didn't have that support and assistance."

If you would like to donate an hour of pay, or whatever you can spare, to local youth who are homeless, go to the Social Futures website.

Social Futures has a range of services to support people who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of homelessness, or in unstable housing. Call 1800 719 625 to contact our Connecting Home team. 

Social Futures does not provide emergency accommodation. If you are experiencing homelessness and need emergency accommodation, please call Link2Home 1800 152 152.