Last week, Homes North CEO Maree McKenzie travelled to Canberra to support the Home Time Campaign, calling for an increase to Youth Allowance for young people who cannot safely live at home.

At the heart of the campaign is a simple but urgent truth – the current rate of Youth Allowance is not enough to live on.

“Right now the rate simply isn’t enough to live on,” Maree said. “It also places pressure on community housing providers who want to assist young people, but projects just don’t stack up.”

For community housing providers like Homes North, and other specialist youth housing services, the numbers tell a stark story. When supporting a young person receiving Youth Allowance, providers receive around $85 per week in rent. At that level, delivering safe, stable accommodation and appropriate support becomes incredibly challenging. It is a model that is clearly not sustainable.

But beyond the funding shortfall, what made the campaign truly powerful was the leadership of young people themselves.

“The most powerful part of the campaign was hearing directly from young people with lived experience of homelessness, including those who have survived time on the streets,” Maree said. “Their leadership, courage and honesty are what drive this movement.”

Their stories are a reminder that Youth Allowance is not just a policy setting or a budget line item – it is a lifeline. When payments fall short, young people are left choosing between food, transport, education and a roof over their heads.

It was encouraging to see Minister for Housing Clare O’Neil engaging directly with young people and listening to their experiences. But listening alone is not enough.

With the May Federal Budget approaching, there is an opportunity for real change. Increasing Youth Allowance for young people without a safe home would not only strengthen the sustainability of youth housing services – it would provide young people with the stability they need to rebuild their lives.

Now is the time for action. Let’s hope the Federal Government backs young people in the 2026 May Budget and delivers the support they urgently need.