'Sleeping on trains, in tents and cars': youth homelessness at crisis level

Ms Ransford remembers vividly sitting in the school hall as a 16-year-old and the sense of helplessness she felt as she battled homelessness for two years.

"I had a very turbulent relationship with both my parents," she said.

Her parents divorced when she was young, and her mother's struggle with addiction propelled her to leave home.

At times she stayed with her dad, a friend and a sister. None proved long-term options.

"I jumped around from place to place," she said. "My life was very unstable."

The situation took a toll on her mental health, and she found herself feeling scared for the future.

Fast forward eight years, and Ms Ransford's life couldn't be more different.

She is happy and thriving, with a stable home and working as a youth worker, helping people in the same predicament she once was in.

How did she pull herself out of it?

By her own admission, she is one of the "lucky ones".

A chance meeting with Project Youth led to her being placed in a refuge.

Through encouragement from some of the youth workers, and a scholarship with Toyota she completed her HSC and went on to study a graduate diploma in community services.

Now, as a full-time youth worker at the refuge where she once lived in southern Sydney, she sees many kids falling through the cracks.

"There is a big need, and services are at capacity," she said. "My experience wasn't as severe as others, and I am fortunate about that."

"I try to provide the glimmer of hope that I received from youth workers," she said.

Ms Ransford said she sees so many young people bouncing, like she did, between temporary accommodation, motels and unsafe environments.

Youth Allowance is so meagre it forces young people into shared houses that are often unsafe, she said.

Some sleep in cars or tents, and even on trains and public transport, their situation is so dire.

Her story comes as Yfoundations, NSW's peak body for child and youth homelessness, launched 'Young and Alone'.

The faux reality TV show brings to life the raw realities of surviving as a young person experiencing homelessness in Australia.

Chief executive John Macmillan said the situation was at a crisis point.

Half of the young people seeking crisis accommodation are being turned away, he said.

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ABS figures show over 43,000 children and young people under the age of 25 presented alone to a homelessness service in 2023-24.

"We need a national youth homelessness plan, adequately resourced, to ensure that every young person has access to the support they need to thrive," said Mr Macmillan.

Yfoundations has launched a petition calling on the federal and state governments to make ending youth homelessness a national priority, with a targeted plan and funding.

For Ms Ransford, she has one message for young people who are experiencing homelessness.

"It isn't your fault," she said. "It's a basic human right to have a roof over your head."