Saint Patrick’s Community Support Centre in Fremantle has a long history of helping people in need. Originally a soup kitchen in 1972, Saint Pat’s has since grown to offer a wide range of support services, including youth homelessness services.
Support Services Manager, Kim Rawson, and Youth Housing Support Case Worker, Annie Kennedy, joined Doug to share what their youth team does, how they help, and why youth homelessness needs more attention.
Supporting Young People Aged 15 to 25
“Our youth services focus on young people between the ages of 15 and 25,” Kim explains. “That includes young parents, siblings, and others in complex family situations.”
The goal is to help these young people find stable housing and rebuild independence.
“We support young people with or without children,” Annie adds. “It’s about helping the whole unit move toward long-term, sustainable living.”
How the Program Works
Saint Pat’s youth program operates across three main streams:
- Outreach: This is often the first point of contact. Youth workers meet young people who are rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness.
- Transitional Housing: The program manages ten transitional properties. “It’s limited, and housing is tight,” Kim says, “but we provide support to help people learn independent living skills.”
- Long-Term Support: Once in transitional housing, young people are supported to move toward fully independent living with reduced assistance.
Unfortunately, Saint Pat’s does not offer crisis accommodation. “We wish we could,” Kim says, “but we do what we can with what we’ve got.”
Getting Connected to Saint Pat’s
There are multiple ways to get support:
- Drop-in at the Engagement Hub
- Reach out via the website or phone
- Be referred by another service provider
Every Thursday from 12pm to 3pm, the team also runs an emergency relief drop-in session.
“It’s a way for us to connect with more young people,” Annie explains. “Sometimes that’s where we begin longer-term support if we have capacity.”
The Hidden Side of Youth Homelessness
Not all homelessness is visible.
“A lot of young people are couch surfing or living in overcrowded homes,” says Annie. “Some don’t even realise they’re homeless because it’s been their normal for so long.”
Many feel invisible. “They say things like, ‘No one sees us,’ and that’s heartbreaking,” Kim adds.
But things are changing. “We’re now seeing more young people sleeping rough or in cars, it’s becoming more visible, especially in Fremantle.”
What is a Street Walk?
Street walks are when youth workers check in with people sleeping rough.
“We walk through Fremantle or go on outreach runs and we’re seeing more young people,” Kim explains. “Ages 15 to 20, sleeping rough it’s becoming more common.”
The housing crisis is making things worse. With little crisis accommodation available, young people are left without safe places to go.
Why Housing is the Key
Without stable housing, everything else becomes harder.
“We talk to young people about their goals,” says Annie, “but if you don’t know where you’ll sleep tonight, how can you think about school or work?”
The team helps find daytime support, connects people with emergency relief, and aims to get them into safe housing.
“Once they’re stable, they can focus on things like finishing school or getting a job,” Kim says. “And it’s amazing to see how resilient they are.”
The Strength of Young People
Despite the challenges, many young people keep showing up.
“We see kids trying to get to uni or school, even while living out of a car,” Annie says. “It’s inspiring.”
Their resilience keeps the team going. “It’s rewarding work,” Kim says. “They’ve been dealt tough cards, but they keep trying.”
What Needs to Change?
The team is hopeful about future support, but realistic about the slow pace of change.
“We work closely with the government, and we appreciate the recent investment in affordable housing,” Kim says. “But you can’t build a house overnight.”
In the meantime, Saint Pat’s continues to advocate, support, and raise awareness about youth homelessness.
“We want to raise the voices of young people,” says Annie. “Because this issue is real, and it’s growing.”
If you or someone you know needs support, visit stpats.com.au or call Saint Pat’s to get connected.
Show Your Heart for the Homeless
This May, we’re partnering with organisations like Saint Pat’s to collect items to show our Heart for the Homeless. You can join by donating sleeping bags, backpacks, hygiene products and warm clothing to one of the drop-off points listed here.
Listen to the full conversation below.