A group of young people from Katherine have travelled to Darwin with Anglicare NT, to race on brightly decorated couches and raise awareness for youth homelessness.
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The Northern Territory has one of the highest rates of youth homelessness in Australia, with over 3500 young people being homeless on any given night, according to Anglicare NT.
Wednesday was Youth Homelessness Matters Day, and the Couch Surfing event was attended by Anglicare NT and other advocacy groups including Headspace, Casy House and Carers NT.
"It's fair to say that the Northern Territory has a high amount of homeless young people... and it's an issue that affects the whole of the Northern Territory including Katherine," Anglicare NT's Jemma Wood said.
"No young person should have to worry about where they sleep at night... young people experiencing homelessness need accommodation and well resourced support services."
Ms Wood said many homeless young people aged from their early teens to mid-twenties live in overcrowded accommodation or are couch surfing, meaning they move from place to place with "limited support".
She said the five young people from Katherine who raced in the event have worked together to design their couch and cover it in bright, colourful paint.
The group were participants in Anglicare NT's youth homelessness programs in Katherine.
Why are so many young people on the streets?
Everybody's Home is a national campaign which hopes to end homelessness, and campaign spokesperson Kate Colvin said the homelessness crisis in the NT is being driven by high rent prices and increased youth unemployment.
"The rising cost of rental properties pushes stable housing further out of reach for young workers who are increasingly in housing stress," she said.
"Young people who are forced to leave their homes, or are left without homes through no fault of their own, cannot simply get a job that pays them enough to afford adequate accommodation."
Ms Colvin called for increased investment in social housing and a boost to welfare payments such as Youth Allowance.
Ms Wood said investment must be made in "strong and resilient communities" to get young people off the streets and into safe accommodation.
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