The number of homeless college students in Australia is on the rise (Canberra Times photo)
Australian 26-year-old Mitchell (Rhys Mitchell), a former chef who lives in a joint house in (Footscray), Melbourne, is looking forward to studying psychology at the University of Victoria, (Victoria University). But beginning this semester, Mitchell became homeless and had to occupy a deserted hoarding house in (Yarraville), Yalaville. The fridge of the hoarding house was crawling with maggots and dead rats on the floor.
According to the Canberra Times, Australia is becoming increasingly homeless, making headlines recently. Hidden under the data is the growing number of students in higher education who are homeless.
According to recently released statistics, there are 10813 (TAFE) students in Australia who are homeless at university or vocational technical and continuing education, 1117 of whom live in shelters for the homeless and 1073 who borrow sofas from other people's homes. 1765 people live in boarding apartments. Another nearly 7000 people live in "heavily crowded" homes, and 81 live on the streets or sleep in cars.
Statistics show that homeless college students account for 10% of Australia's total homeless.
Colvin (Kate Colvin), deputy chief executive of (Council to Homeless Persons), the Australian homeless Association, said it had become a phenomenal problem, with low-income college students barely able to afford housing. This is also the reason why more and more college students and vocational and technical and continuing education students become homeless.
Up to A $89.87 a fortnightly (Commonwealth Rent Assistance), a federal rental subsidy available to single couples, is simply not keeping pace with soaring rents.
The (Malcolm Turnbull) administration is in consultation with state and territorial governments to revise the National Housing and homelessness Program (National Housing and Homelessness Agreement), which is expected to be more effective. The national housing and homelessness plan, originally proposed by the Labour Party, failed to meet most of its intended goals, including increasing the supply of housing.
April 18, the homeless Youth Day, (Youth Homelessness Day),-related groups will again call on the Government to take proactive measures on the same day.