Creating home: young people’s responses to physical design and material elements of youth housing models

Despite the continued growth in the number of young people experiencing homelessness, there continues to be debate about the most appropriate way to respond to this issue. One response has been the provision of Youth Housing Models (YHMs) that provide short term (1–2 years) housing for young people on the pre-condition that the young person is willing or actively engaged in education and employment. These models can be purpose built, or retrofits of existing buildings, and while ‘home is more than a building’ this article argues that there are physical components of housing that can improve or diminish a young person’s experience of citizenship and home. These include capacity to personalise their space, the ability to connect with others while still retaining individual space, and the provision of a safe environment. Drawing on interviews with 31 young people housed across five youth housing models in South Australia, this article demonstrates the specific ways that physical and material components assisted or challenged a sense of home for the young person. The findings highlight the need for youth housing policies and programs to prioritise belonging, connection, and safety to improve young people’s well-being and long-term housing outcomes.