'Victoria'

I'm 21 and have been homeless since I was 15.

I was kicked out of home when my family found out I was pregnant. They couldn't handle it and didn't accept me after that. There's no emergency accommodation in Wyndham, and finding accommodation in Melbourne is still really difficult. There aren't enough resources in this area and organisations have little money to help young people. I mostly sleep in squats and outside the train station when I haven't got anywhere to go. Couch surfing is very common. It [being homeless] is really hard on my mental state and makes me feel as though nothing's worth it. It's definitely a hidden problem. Everyone likes to think the world is less troubled than it really is. More homes are being built for the elderly than for young people.

'Mark'

I'm 20 and I've been homeless since I was 12 when I was taken into care by the Department of Human Services. I didn't like it there so I took off. It's pretty hard for young people in Melbourne in general and there is nowhere in Wyndham for them to sleep. I find myself sleeping on the floor in abandoned houses, on the street, or couch surfing. Being homeless has a massive impact on my self-esteem, and at one point turned me towards drugs and crime. I feel as though the world and everyone is against me - it feels like nobody cares.

Names have been changed.