They are the Illawarra’s hidden homeless – around 1350 young people across the region who ‘couch surf’ as they have no place to call home.
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Taking refuge on a friend or relative’s couch is by far the most common form of homelessness for those aged under 25, and one that The Salvation Army is targeting in a new national campaign.
The Illawarra Salvos is urging residents to do their bit to help out by spending one night on a couch, while raising funds to help those who have no other choice.
‘’In the Illawarra there’s around 1500 people who are homeless, and around 150 of these sleep rough – the rest are couch surfing,’’ Illawarra Salvos spokeswoman Karen Walker said.
The Couch Project will raise much-needed funds to support young people impacted by homelessness.
- Karen Walker, Salvos
‘’Couch surfing is where people have no fixed address and are forced to spend their nights on a relative or friend’s couch – or on a fold-out bed or even on the floor.
‘’We say that it’s not a sleepover if you can’t go home – and these people are forced to stay at different places every night of the week.’’
New research shows that almost half of Australia’s 105,000 homeless people are under the age of 25 – just three per cent of those sleep on the street.
Family violence and breakdown are among the reasons that so many young people experience homelessness according to Mrs Walker.
The Salvos can offer immediate assistance in the form of food, blankets and crisis accommodation. They also run counselling and education programs for the young people – and for vulnerable families.
Nationally The Couch Project aims to raise $120,000 for the Salvos youth programs.
‘’We’re asking school students as well as adults to set up a fundraising page and spend a night on their couch or host a sleepover on the official date of September 16 - or any night between now and October,’’ Mrs Walker said.
“Every dollar counts. For instance $10 helps provide a warm nutritious meal for a young person experiencing homelessness while $28 helps children at risk of homelessness through an ‘after school’ program.’’
Mrs Walker said the campaign also aimed to raise awareness of this modern form of homelessness, so people could identify it and know how to help out.
For details visit www.thecouchproject.com.au
