I Didn’t Know Where to Go” — A Guide to Getting Help if You’re a Young Person Experiencing Homelessness in WA

A lot of young people don’t think of themselves as homeless because they’re not sleeping on the street. But homelessness includes a lot of situations that might feel more familiar:

Couch surfing — staying at different people’s houses because you have nowhere permanent to go.

Staying somewhere unsafe — remaining in a situation involving violence, abuse, or serious conflict because you feel you have no other option.

No fixed address — moving around without a stable, safe place to call your own.

Rough sleeping — sleeping outside, in a car, or anywhere not meant to be a home.

If any of these sound like your situation, you qualify for support.

You don’t need to be sleeping rough to ask for help.

It’s okay to ask for help

Reaching out when things are hard takes courage. A lot of young people wait too long because they’re worried about being judged, about what will happen, or about whether they even deserve help.

You do deserve help. And the people who work in homelessness services are there specifically for young people in your situation. They have heard it all before. They won’t judge you. They will listen.

When you contact a homelessness service for the first time, you’ll usually have a conversation with someone about your situation – where you’re at, what you need, and what your options are. You don’t need to bring documents or have everything sorted. You just need to show up or make the call.

From there, the service will work with you to figure out the best next step. That might be emergency accommodation, transitional housing, outreach support, or connecting you with other services that can help with things like food, clothing, or access to Centrelink.

The goal is always to help you move forward, not just to get you off the street for one night, but to actually build a pathway to something more stable.

What support is available in WA?

At Youth Futures, we offer a range of services for young people aged 15 to 25 across Perth who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of it.

Djinda and TINOCA provide short-term, 24/7 supported accommodation for young people aged 15 to 19 who are experiencing homelessness or can no longer stay at home. Every aspect of these services is designed with young people at the centre – a stable, welcoming space with youth workers and case workers who are there for you every single day.

TAP North and TAP South offer transitional housing options for young people aged 16 to 21 in the Perth metropolitan area – shared and single housing options as you work toward independence.

Brentwood provides supported, in-reach accommodation for young people aged 16 to 25, including those who have been rough sleeping. Each self-contained unit gives you space to build independent living skills with a dedicated case worker on site Monday to Friday.

The Nest supports young parents who are experiencing homelessness, housing instability, or unsafe living situations including family and domestic violence. Walking alongside young families to build safety, stability, and confidence.

Emergency Relief is available if you’re in financial crisis and need immediate practical support – food, hygiene items, a supermarket voucher, transport to an appointment, clothing, or medication. Our team responds quickly and without judgement.

We won’t pretend the system is perfect. Demand for crisis accommodation in WA is high, and sometimes services are full.

If that happens, please don’t give up. A good service will help you find alternatives, connect you with other providers, or put you on a waitlist while supporting you in the meantime.

Keep asking. Keep reaching out. The right support is out there.

Other services that can help

Beyond Youth Futures, there are other services in WA worth knowing about:

Headspace provides mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25. If you’re struggling emotionally alongside your housing situation, they can help.

Kids Helpline is available 24/7 on 1800 55 1800 for young people aged 5 to 25 — if you need someone to talk to right now, they’re there.

Centrelink can help you access financial support including Youth Allowance. You can visit a service centre or call 13 24 90.

Legal Aid WA can provide free legal advice if you’re dealing with legal issues connected to your housing situation.

Whatever brought you here, this is not the end of your story. It is one chapter – and there are people who genuinely want to help you write the next one.

Scott arrived at Djinda at 17, carrying a lifetime of difficult experiences. With support from his case worker and youth workers, he built the foundations of an independent life – studying, accessing services, and finding his feet. Today he says simply: “I feel safe.”

That is what is possible. And it can start with one conversation.