Leaving Home

Changing where we live often reflects an important stage in our life.  There are lots of different reasons why you might be looking for somewhere to stay. Maybe you’d like more independence and want to leave home, or maybe you need to move to a different place for work or study. Sometimes the reasons for you needing somewhere to stay are beyond your control and not a matter of choice.

• The Australia's Homeless Youth report was released by the National Youth Commission on 8 April 2008.  It is a 400 page inquiry that calls for more funding to tackle the worsening problem of youth homelessness.
  
  
• If you're thinking about leaving home, Reach Out! has a fact sheet about things you need to consider before you move out.
  
  
• The Energy & Water Ombudsman NSW may be able to assist you if you have issues with your elecricity, gas or water supplier, including disconnections, disputed high bills, difficulty in making payment or complaints about these services.
  
  
• The Australian National University's Centre for Economic Policy Research has published a discussion paper on the importance of young people living at home while completing education.  Download Leaving Home: What Economics Has to Say about the Living Arrangements of Young Australians (PDF  204KB).
  
  
• A pilot program was trialled in the Hunter in early 2008 to help young people leaving full-time care get rental accommodation.  For more information see www.nationalhousingconference.org.au/downloads/2008/dayone/richter_nhc2008.pdf (PDF 308KB)
  

More info:

• Renting and buying
  
  
• Emergency accommodation