Western Australia launches youth homelessness prevention program
A new initiative in Western Australia seeks to prevent youth homelessness by concentrating on family assistance and early intervention. The program, called Riley’s, was introduced by Parkerville Children and Youth Care as a replacement for an older initiative. It broadens its focus to include prevention, reconnection efforts, and therapeutic support for young people aged 12 to 17 who face risks of housing instability or are already experiencing it.
This effort addresses a less obvious form of homelessness—situations where young individuals do not sleep on the streets but instead move between friends’ homes, stay temporarily with relatives, or experience instability due to family conflict, violence, mental health challenges, substance use, trauma, and/or relationship breakdown. Many of these cases remain hidden behind patterns like couch-surfing or brief stays with relatives, which traditional definitions of homelessness tend to overlook.
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Kim Brooklyn, the CEO of Parkerville, said family breakdown is one of the key drivers of youth homelessness. She noted that early intervention can dramatically improve outcomes. “At its heart, Riley’s is about helping young people and families work through difficult circumstances, rebuild trust, and create safer, more stable futures together. Sometimes what a family needs is a circuit-breaker, practical support, and a safe space to begin difficult conversations,” Ms Brooklyn said.
The program operates under three key principles. The first, Safety-Governed Practice, ensures all decisions are shaped by ongoing assessment of physical, emotional, and relational safety. The second, Youth-Led Practice, places young people’s voices, experiences, and preferences at the center of decision-making. The third, Family-Centred Practice, recognizes parents, carers, kin, and extended family as important partners in creating positive change. This approach reflects a growing recognition that sustainable change rarely occurs by working with a young person alone.
Unlike some services that concentrate exclusively on emergency housing, Riley’s provides 24/7 residential stabilization and therapeutic support for young people who cannot safely remain at home. Alongside counseling and family support, it offers practical assistance aimed at strengthening relationships and preventing homelessness. However, much of its work occurs before a crisis worsens. Many families access counseling, conflict resolution support, and therapeutic interventions while the young person remains at home, allowing challenges to be addressed before a housing crisis occurs.
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A structured Experience Framework guides all interactions, ensuring every participant feels safe, wanted, and helped throughout their engagement with the service. Support is customized based on individual needs, whether through residential care or outpatient services. The primary objective is to prevent homelessness by reinforcing relationships and equipping families with strategies to resolve disputes before they result in displacement.
Young people aged 12 to 17 can receive referrals and further details through Parkerville’s official platforms. Assistance may begin before a housing emergency arises, often through family counseling or mediation. Riley’s is funded through the WA Department of Communities and the Sisters of St John of God.
