Nerese Richter

Couch-surfing is, unfortunately, a common word amongst Queensland youth today. The term is used when a young person has left his or her home in search for refuge somewhere, anywhere, better than the broken home they have left.

This feature focuses on this increasing problem, and the govermental and charitable efforts to help these homeless teens. With only 9 crisis beds across the Gold Coast, the majority of these homeless youth are left to fend for themselves on the streets.

Various organizations, such as the Queensland Youth Housing Coalition or Extended Hands, have made efforts to help reconcile these teens with their estranged parents or to try and keep them in school.

If there was more awareness about this issue or more opportunities to have a safe bed at a shelter, homelessness in Queensland and Australia can become a more exposed and vital concern.