Homelessness and Children
In Australia
What percentage of homeless people in Australia are children?
Children under the age of 18 make up 27% of all homeless people in Australia.
How many people under 12 are homeless?
On census night 2011, 17,845 people were counted homeless. This count did not include children staying over at somebody else's house.
Why are children homeless?
Children are homeless because most of the time their parents would have split and they would have to live with their single mother. Another reason is because their parents are broke and leave them by themselves to live in the street.
Australian Associations and Websites that help homeless children.
Websites:
www.vinnies.org.au/Homeless-Servicewww.homelessnessclearinghouse.govspace.gov.au/
www.aihw.gov.au/homelessness/
Organisations and Associations:
Vinnies
Australian Institute of Health
Department for Child Protection
Health and Homeless children
When you are a homeless child health is a big issue, both physically and mentally.
Children experiencing homelessness have a greater chance of getting,
- Ear Infections
- Developmental delays
- Nutritional deficits
- Asthma
- Infectious illness
- Emergency room use and hospital-isation
- Dental problems
- Abdominal pain
- Anxiety and depression
- Behavioral issues
- Low self esteem and self confidence
Education and homelessness in children.
A homeless child has less chance of getting a proper education and making friends at school. Even if they go to school they often have to go to many different schools. Children in homeless families can have academic and learning delays, and difficulty making and maintaining friends.