Youth Left Out in the Cold

Becoming homeless is an unwanted prospect at any life stage. Sadly, and shockingly, nearly half of those homeless in Aotearoa are young people under the age of 18. There are mixed and complex reasons for this reality, but youth advocacy groups—The Salvation Army included—are working hard to respond to this need.

Generation Alpha, born after 2010, is estimated to be the largest generational cohort ever.

By 2025, there will be 2 billion Gen Alphas alive on the planet. And while their predecessors, Generation Z (born mid-1990s to 2009), were the first generation to have access to the internet and portable digital technology from a very young age, Gen Alpha is predicted to surpass the savvy Gen Z and wield unparalleled influence by mid-century. However, being part of the most technologically privileged generation in history does not necessarily guarantee access to a smart phone or computer, let alone a safe, healthy home or a happy family life here in Aotearoa.

The gap between ‘the haves’ and ‘the have nots’ continues to widen, and in this digital age layers of disadvantage compound, affecting educational outcomes, social flourishing and self-confidence in our children and young people. Since the New Zealand 2013 Census revealed that over half of our homeless population are young people under 18, little has changed. This is a shocking statistic that exposes an ongoing, tragic reality. Even more sobering is that the first Gen Alphas are emerging anecdotally in youth homeless figures.

A safe place to call home?

Aaron Hendry, co-founder of youth advocacy group Kick Back, said in an interview with Lloyd Burr following the release of the 2024 Budget, ‘We’re past crisis point; young people have already fallen through the cracks and there are young people suffering right now, because for generations we haven’t solved this issue’.

The pandemic highlighted just how bad youth homelessness had become in Aotearoa. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stated in May 2020, ‘Our response to Covid-19, on the face of it, had a very simple premise: stay home, save lives. That simple requirement forced all of us as a country to ask the question, what if you don’t have a home? The answer was simple—we will find you one.’

Aaron wrote an opinion piece for The Spinoff website just a month after Arden made this statement, explaining that while older homeless people and families were supported into motels and other social housing options during the pandemic, rangatahi were ‘left out in the cold’ because they did not qualify for statefunded facilities due to their age.

Homeless rangatahi are especially vulnerable and are more at risk of violence, sexual assault and other forms of exploitation. Stories of the experiences of homeless youth during the most acute phase of the pandemic are beyond alarming. Manaaki Rangatahi, the Auckland youth homelessness collective, of which Aaron is a member, continues to call on the government to act urgently to end youth homelessness.

‘While we’re addressing these [underlying social] issues,’ says Aaron, ‘we also need urgent and immediate access to safe, supported and stable emergency and transitional housing—so that if a young person becomes homeless tonight, they don’t have to become a victim of sexual abuse, exploitation and neglect because the only place available for them to go is our streets.’

Safety in numbers?

Fast-forward to the announcement by the Government in June that $20 million in funding for youth-focused transitional housing is to be reallocated. While Aaron fears the impact this will have on accommodation for homeless rangatahi, Housing Minister Chris Bishop explains that the Government is making savings ‘where funding has not been committed and where places will not be allocated’. Chris insists that ‘the savings will not result in a reduction of current service provision for youth transitional housing.’

But is the status quo enough? Aaron says not. The numbers simply don’t add up. Guaranteeing no reduction in current funding does not address the ongoing desperate shortfall, let alone a plan for future improvement.

‘We’ve had young people across the country who are sleeping on our streets and in unsafe environments, and we don’t have housing available for them. The loss of this $20 million means there will be even more who will be experiencing severe harm.’

The Salvation Army’s Territorial Director for Community Ministries Jono Bell says, ‘It is critical that government invest into the future of our rangatahi rather than withdraw or reduce investment. The Salvation Army will continue to advocate at government level to improve funding.’

The Army has been actively working for years to be part of the housing solution for young people, and Jono is confident that the government will continue to provide funding to support that work.

‘We have a youth housing model that is unique and incredibly effective and was validated by an external review undertaken in late 2023. Our housing model includes a passionate team of skilled youth workers,’ explains Jono.

Gen Z and the Alphas already inhabit a world that is vastly different to that of previous generations. But different doesn’t necessarily equate to better. While there are certainly complex issues influencing youth homelessness, if we do not disrupt the current housing trajectory for this vulnerable group, what kind of Aotearoa will our tamariki (children) and mokopuna (grandchildren) inherit? No amount of digital finesse or tech savvy can ever compensate for being left out in the cold when it comes to housing for all. We have work to do as a country—personally and collectively.

The Salvation Army and other youth advocates like Aaron continue to lean in, speak out and fight to ensure no one—especially any young people— is left out in the cold.