Forty years ago, a small group of locals in Joondalup saw young people in crisis, scared, hungry, and without a safe place to stay.
They didn’t wait for permission. They found a house, opened their doors, and Youth Futures was born.
From that single act of compassion, our organisation has grown into a leading force for young people across Western Australia, providing housing, education, wellbeing and hope to those who need it most.
But the need is greater than ever.
In WA, the median length of homelessness support is just sixteen days, compared to forty-three days nationally. Young people aged 12 to 24 now make up almost a quarter of Australia’s homeless population.
Behind those numbers are real stories - a teen too anxious to go to school after years of bullying, a young parent with nowhere for their baby to sleep, a seventeen-year-old trying to study while couch surfing.
“They deserve better,” says our Board Chair Kellie Benda. “How we treat our young people is how we treat each other. It speaks to who we are, our compassion, our courage, our values.”
As Youth Futures celebrates forty years, we’re looking ahead, building more homes, strengthening our programs, and creating schools where every young person feels safe, supported, and seen.
Because no matter where you come from or what challenges you face, with the right support there’s no limit to what you can achieve.
You can be part of that change.
Every dollar helps open a door.
Every partnership creates opportunity.
Together, we can build brighter futures, one young life at a time.
WATCH THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY VIDEO HERE
