Young people worried about housing affordability
Almost half of young people in Australia are worried they won't be able to afford a safe place to live in the future, while around two in five don't feel positive about their future, new research from Orygen and Mission Australia has revealed.
The report, Making hope possible, draws on findings from the 2025 Mission Australia Youth Survey of 17,155 young people aged 14-19, examining their hopes, aspirations and confidence to navigate the challenges of adulthood.
Key findings
While almost 60 per cent of young people felt positive about their future, the report found much lower levels of hope amongst certain groups:
- Only 29 per cent of gender diverse young people felt positive
- Only 40 per cent of young people not in education or employment felt positive
- Only 43 per cent of young people with a disability felt positive
- Only 43 per cent of those with a mental health condition felt positive
While about 7 in 10 young people felt confident in their ability to manage money, almost half (47 per cent) were worried about affording a safe place to live in the future, highlighting the impact of broader economic and housing pressures on young people's hopes for the future.
Support for young people’s mental health & wellbeing is needed
Lead author from Orygen, Associate Professor Kate Filia, said young people's hopes and confidence for the future were closely connected to their mental health and the broader circumstances shaping their lives.
"If almost half of young people are worried about safe housing, it's not surprising we also see increasing rates of mental ill-health and psychological distress,” A/Prof. Filia said.
"The report shows that young people still have dreams and aspirations but are coming of age in a period of considerable uncertainty – shaped by rising costs, housing insecurity, climate change and rapid social and technological change – so we need to support them to navigate these concerns and feel positive about the future.
"The findings also show how important it is to target support to young people facing the biggest barriers to hope, because hope is fundamental to building confidence to pursue future aspirations.”
The report also found that young people with a less positive outlook and low confidence in dealing with practical challenges were five times more likely to experience high psychological distress and four times more likely to report feeling lonely all or most of the time.
"Giving young people access to programs that strengthen their capability and confidence, help them build practical skills and confidence to navigate transitions into adulthood - including work, study, housing, relationships and mental healthcare - should be a priority if we want young people to thrive into adulthood," A/Prof. Filia said.
Investing in safe, secure and affordable housing is key
Michael Carmody, Mission Australia's General Manager, Centre for Evidence and Insights, said it was concerning that only 53 per cent of young people were confident they would be able to afford a safe place to live in the future.
"A safe and secure home is fundamental to young people's wellbeing and their ability to pursue their goals and plan for the future,” Carmody said.
“When young people are worried about whether housing will be within reach, it can affect their sense of stability, opportunity and hope.
"We know these concerns are often felt most acutely by young people already experiencing disadvantage, including financial hardship, housing instability or homelessness.
"That's why investing in early intervention, social and affordable housing, and ensuring payments like Youth Allowance meet the cost of essentials is so important.
“Together, these measures can help prevent challenges from becoming crises and give more young people the stability they need to pursue their goals and look to the future with confidence, hope and possibility."
Key policy recommendations include:
- Embed an explicit intergenerational lens to all policy development decisions, considering the long-term impacts of economic, housing, climate, education and health policy on young people.
- Strengthen young people’s capability and confidence through programs that focus on the transition from school to further education and that build social connection.
- Target support to young people facing the greatest barriers, including raising the rate of youth allowance to reduce financial stress and distress for young people, and prioritising housing for young people at risk of, or experiencing homelessness.