As Aotearoa continues to confront homelessness, rising living costs and growing pressure on vulnerable communities, youth advocate Aaron Hendry is calling attention to one of the country’s most pressing social challenges: young people without a safe and stable place to call home.
Hendry is the General Manager of Kick Back, a youth development and social justice organisation advocating for urgent action to end youth homelessness in New Zealand.
His work places the experiences of rangatahi at the centre of conversations about housing, poverty, social services and the responsibilities of government and communities.
Youth Homelessness Goes Beyond Sleeping Rough
While homelessness is often associated with people sleeping on the streets, the reality for many young people can be far less visible.
Rangatahi experiencing housing insecurity may move between temporary accommodation, stay with friends or relatives, sleep in vehicles or remain in unsafe living environments because they have nowhere else to go.
These circumstances can make youth homelessness difficult to identify and address.
For young people already navigating education, employment, family relationships and the transition into adulthood, the absence of stable housing can create significant barriers to wellbeing and opportunity.
The challenge is particularly serious when young people lack the financial resources, family support or connections needed to secure suitable accommodation.
Māori Rangatahi and the Need for Culturally Responsive Support
Youth homelessness also raises important questions about the experiences of Māori rangatahi and the role of whānau, whakapapa and community connections in providing lasting support.
Housing insecurity can disrupt relationships, education, employment and access to healthcare.
For Māori rangatahi, effective responses must also recognise the importance of cultural identity, belonging and connections to whānau and whenua.
Community-led and kaupapa Māori approaches have an important role to play in ensuring young people receive support that responds to their circumstances rather than treating homelessness as an isolated housing problem.
Prevention Must Be Part of the Solution
Kick Back’s advocacy for ending youth homelessness highlights the need to consider both immediate support and long-term prevention.
Emergency accommodation may provide temporary relief, but lasting solutions also require access to affordable housing, appropriate support services and opportunities for young people to build independent and secure futures.
A comprehensive response could include stronger early intervention, better coordination between housing and youth services, and support for young people transitioning out of institutional care or unstable family environments.
The challenge for policymakers is to ensure young people do not fall through gaps between different government agencies and community organisations.
A Question of National Priorities
With housing affordability and the cost of living featuring prominently in national debate, youth homelessness raises a fundamental question about how Aotearoa protects its most vulnerable young people.
For organisations such as Kick Back, the issue is not simply about providing a roof over someone’s head.
It is about ensuring rangatahi have the safety, stability, relationships and opportunities they need to thrive.
Hendry’s advocacy brings attention to the importance of listening directly to young people and recognising their experiences when designing services and housing responses.
Building a Future Where Rangatahi Have Somewhere to Call Home
Aaron Hendry joins Radio Waatea to discuss the realities of youth homelessness, the pressures facing vulnerable rangatahi and what meaningful action could look like.
The conversation comes as communities continue to grapple with the wider consequences of housing insecurity and the need for coordinated responses across government, social services and the community sector.
The central challenge is clear: ending youth homelessness requires more than temporary accommodation. It requires a commitment to ensuring every young person has a safe place to live and the support needed to build a secure future.
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