Youth Research Qualitative Report - District Council of Mount Barker

physical and mental health problems and are more likely to engage in risky behaviour leading to self
harm or criminal activity (Rice and Dolgin, 2008). It is important to consider the housing needs of
young people in relation to their educational, employment and social needs (Williams et al, 2009a;
Williams et al, 2009b). Providing emergency, medium or long term housing to young people in an
area that is some distance from their school, work or social networks will isolate them from
important resources and create continued disadvantage. Continuity of residential location should be
a primary concern if that is in the interests of the young person.
Housing was not an issue for the majority of young people participating in this study because the
majority took housing for granted – they came from well resourced families and had not
experienced difficulty finding or retaining accommodation. However some of these advantaged
young people did relate housing issues to the problems they associated with disengaged young
people in the area.
They have nothing better to do ... Everyone knows them as the druggies. Do you like it that
they’re hanging around It makes us look bad, because the older people would see them and
go oh my god, kids in Mount Barker are ferals. But they’ve got nowhere else better to go.
(Young woman, 17 yrs)
For a minority of participants, housing was a very big issue. Some young people are unable to remain
in their family home. Overcrowding, relationship breakdown, abuse and drug and alcohol issues may
all precipitate a need for short or long term alternative housing for a young person. Their young age,
lack of income and poor access to social and community supports makes alternative housing difficult
to find. In the Mt Barker Council district housing options are not readily available to young people in
short, medium or long term need.
If you want cheap rental, we've got to go down to Elizabeth or Davoren Park and that's even
worse for us. (Young woman, 18yrs)
For some there are no short term options and these young people (male and female) spoke about
sleeping rough (in parks or outside shops), or couch surfing (going from one friends house to
another). Those who were given access to medium or long term housing solutions found themselves
in the city or Murray Bridge; in a nice house isolated from their family, their friends and often their
school.
I have actually got a housing trust house. At 14 I was at housing trust, looking for a house,
needing one really badly, I was lounge surfing for 2 and a half years, I’ve only just got a house
now. I was 17 when I got the house, I was living at my boyfriend's house, I was living at
random people's houses...There's been times when I used to be a bit of a druggo, I used to get
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Needs assessment of young people in the Mt Barker Council District – November 2009