Young & Alone: The Campaign Against Youth Homelessness

Youth Homelessness Matters Day is on 15 April, 2026—a key date for the Property Industry Foundation, and one we want to make as visible as possible.

Young people experience the most severe levels of homelessness of any age cohort in Australia and research shows the situation is getting worse.

The 2025 Rental Affordability Snapshot by Anglicare found there are no rentals available across the whole of Australia that are affordable for a person on Youth Allowance.

Only three rooms in a share house were affordable for a person on JobSeeker, and just 0.7 per cent of all rentals—325 homes—were affordable for a person on the full-time minimum wage.

For young people who cannot live with family or access subsidised rent, unsafe and insecure accommodation is the likely outcome.

As the graph below shows, homelessness rates for people aged 19–24 are persistently higher than all other age cohorts and this group has seen the biggest increase since 2006.

▲ Homelessness rates for Australians aged 19–24 are persistently above the national average and have risen faster than any other age group since 2006. Source: ABS Census 2006–2021

This is why PIF has partnered with the peak body for youth homelessness services, Yfoundations, to amplify Youth Homelessness Matters Day.

Working with UnLtd, Ogilvy and PHD Media, PIF produced the Young & Alone campaign, which ran last year and returns in 2026.

The campaign features actors depicting real situations faced by young people without a safe place to sleep—staying in unsafe accommodation, sleeping in parks, or walking through the night to stay safe.

Youth homelessness is at the intersection of homelessness, housing, and intergenerational inequity.

The more of us who activate on the day, the more likely government is to respond. Social media posts and collateral are available here. Share them on or around 15 April to show your support.

And if you'd like to go further, head to the Property Industry Foundation to donate and learn more about the work that makes campaigns like this possible. On 15 April, stand up for our young people.

The Urban Developer is a proud partner of the Property Industry Foundation, helping build awareness and raise funds for youth homelessness in Australia.