Kick Back report exposes extent, causes of youth homelessness

Warning: This story discusses suicide.

"We're all still young, but going on the streets right now, it's like the government's trying to make us grow up faster and we're still kids at the end of the day."

Frankie has lived on the streets since he was just 11 years old, one of many clients of youth charity Kick Back, which is reporting a 95 percent increase in those desperate for help.

On Wednesday morning, Kick Back released its second 'State of the Street' report, which finds 73 percent of the young people accessing its services are either sleeping rough or couch surfing.

That's up from 44 percent in its previous report.

The latest result finds family breakdown is a leading cause of youth homelessness, and 31 percent say they've suffered from violence or abuse, or left home because they feel unsafe.

At 10.50am, outside Kick Back's Karangahape Rd youth hub, a young man, maybe 16 or 17, is slumped on the sidewalk, staring into the middle distance and waiting for it to open at 11am.

He clearly hasn't slept for some time. One of his boots doesn't have laces, his only luggage is a reusable New World shopping bag.

Sitting and lying down on the footpath across the road, a group of older people are already on the Lion Reds, their duvets and other belongings stuffed into rubbish bags.

One of the volunteers comes down to let the young man in, and gives him a towel and some soap for the shower. He picks out something clean to wear from a rack of donated clothes.

He has been helped into emergency motel accommodation, but he's spent the past few days roughing it on the streets.

Kick Back general manager Aaron Hendrey says young people increasingly rely on charities like his just to get the basics.

"We've seen a real huge increase in young people reaching out for support over the last year," he says. "We've got about 90, over 90 percent, 95 percent increase in referrals coming through to us, which I think is a real sign of the scale of the crisis and how much it's getting worse."

According to the Kick Back report, the homelessness crisis has even reaching primary school-aged children.

Now in his early 20s, Frankie first became homeless when he was 11 years old.

"I lost my dad at a young age, at 11 years old, and OT [Oranga Tamariki] was trying to put me into different houses.

"I was getting picked on. It was to that point that I was going to commit suicide, so I ran away from the foster homes to the streets."

He says he roughed it, living in places like cemeteries, until he was 21, when he came into contact with Kick Back.

Now a firm part of the Kick Back whanau, Frankie is passionate about helping other young people who fall through the cracks.

"I just really want to yell at the prime minister, to be honest," he said. "Make more houses for the youth and people that's on the streets right now."

When he sees young people on the streets who are as young as he was, he says he feels "heartbroken".

"We're all still young, but like going on the streets right now, it's like the government's trying to make us grow up faster and we're still kids at the end of the day."

It's Anita's 23rd birthday, and she's come to the youth hub with her niece to get some kai and celebrate with her friends.

She moved to the streets because she felt she couldn't stay at home. She feels fortunate to have at last found secure accommodation.

"We were in and out of lodges and stuff and, kind of, that situation. City is really bad for young kids to live around homeless, because you can be in danger or anything that can happen to you.

"I'd rather house youth, because we don't want them to die young."

Kick Back's 'State of the Streets' report contains 12 recommendations for ending youth homelessness, including introducing duty-to-assist legislation, returning access to benefits for 18-19 year olds and developing a national strategy to end youth homelessness.

Where to get help:

• Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any reason
• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357
• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends
• Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202
• Samaritans: 0800 726 666
• Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz
• What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds
• Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832. Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, and English.
• Victim Support 0800 842 846.
• Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254
• Rainbow Youth: (09) 376 4155
• OUTLine: 0800 688 5463

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.