Thousands of young people with a roof over their head tonight are, in reality, slipping through the cracks and further down the slippery slope towards homelessness.
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Although they might have a blanket over their body and a pillow under their head, their resting place isn’t necessarily safe, secure or stable.
These young people are couch surfers and, according to the Salvation Army, they are in the throes of the youth homelessness cycle.
So what, exactly, is couch surfing?
Couch surfing is typified as a person staying temporarily in a series of other people’s homes and making use of improvised sleeping arrangements.
Young people often end up couch-surfing when they no longer feel safe at home.
Homeless services providers are unable to help everyone – it is estimated that half the people who request immediate accommodation are turned away.
Couch surfing is a common alternative.
At first, this might seem fun and even exciting – moving from friend to friend with few household responsibilities and new faces every few days.
Eventually, the novelty wears off, the generosity of friends is tested; the couches run out and the stark reality of homelessness hits.
As the Salvation Army’s Major Bruce Harmer observed: “If you can’t go home, it’s not a sleepover.”
According to the Salvos, this hidden homelessness affects more than 44,000 Australians aged between 12 and 24.
The Salvos are trying to heighten awareness of this very real issue by calling on people to spend a night on their couch in support of youth homelessness.
In the process they can also raise money for youth homeless work.
If you would like more information, or care to take part, visit www.thecouchproject.com.au