NSW pushed to extend foster care to age 21 amid cost of living crisis | niltiac
Advocates for young people in the foster care system say the rising cost of living is driving up youth homelessness, raising the urgency for NSW to follow other states and extend care for state wards until 21.
She said the current approach involved “tailored responses and targeted support services that meet the individual needs of young people in care”. “Every other jurisdiction has, in some shape or form, extended care to 21 to offer young people the opportunity to remain with their current carers but NSW is the one stalwart recalcitrant state,” Reed said.
Jason Juretic, the chief executive of youth service Stepping Stone House, said the number of inquiries from young people was triple what it was before the pandemic. Based on trends on the ground, he expected the 2021 census to show a 20 per cent rise in youth homelessness since 2016. The census homelessness figures will be released next year.
International evidence suggested extending care to 21 halved that risk, meaning about 360 NSW young people a year would avoid that fate.
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