'There's no middle ground': Tasmanian youth stuck between support accommodation and an unaffordable rental market

He was among the disproportionately high number of foster care children in Tasmania who, when they reached their later teenage years, found themselves with nowhere left to go.

"Towards the end I got in a bit of trouble so I got kicked out, but child protection didn't want me because I was too old," he said.

For six months, he slept on the couch of mates and strangers but was desperate to start his own life.

He was effectively homeless.

"The hardest part was just trying to get my independence, trying to make my own life," he said.

"It's not something I'd want to see anyone go through."

He managed to find a place in a shelter, and then housing in Trinity Hill through the government's Housing Connect program four months later.

Now aged 20, Corey says there are many young Tasmanians who would not as fortunate as himself.

"I have one friend who has a kid of her own and she's been on the priority waiting list for a house for almost six months," he said.

"Housing is not affordable for younger people who are studying, and it's harder if they're homeless and trying to get a job, and then you need employment references for a house, it's really tricky.

"And you see two or three bedroom houses for $400 to $500 a week, I'd never be able to afford that."

Corey would like to see more accommodation like Trinity Hill built to allow longer-term residents like himself to move on, opening up his space for another young homeless person.

Grace Morgan would also love to move out of Trinity Hill to give her place to someone else, but there was nowhere else for her to go.

She was 16 when she became homeless and started couch surfing, before receiving accommodation at Trinity Hill.

Grace, 19, said it was impossible for young people to find housing in Hobart's crowded rental market.

"The issue with the housing crisis at the moment is that there's no middle ground for people my age," she said.

"It's very difficult to get a rental against people who might be in their 40s, they have a rental history, secure income.

"There's not really an adequate place to go between youth-supported accommodation and private housing."

The rollout of Education First Youth Foyers has been a positive step, she said, where those in supported accommodation are given access to education and training, and then employment.

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Grace has been able to find work, but she said a barrier for many people her age without jobs was trying to plan for the future on payments like Newstart and Youth Allowance.

"The problem is that while it's enough to live on in the present, it's not enough to grow, you can't save to get a better education or buy a car, or pay bond," Grace said.

With a federal election approaching, she wants to see youth homelessness issues front and centre.

And she said it was disappointing to see no action in the latest federal budget.

"There hasn't been any clear action plan on how youth housing is going to be addressed this year, that's something that should be at the forefront," Grace said.

Youth Network of Tasmania is hoping to shine a light on housing issues facing young people for 2019 Youth Homelessness Matters Day on Wednesday.

In Tasmania, the average weekly rent for a three-bedroom house has reached $350, and in Hobart it is $420.

The overall rental vacancy rate is just 2 per cent, with many young Tasmanians having to spend more than 50 per cent of their incoming on housing. 'Housing stress' is reached when a person spends more than one-third on housing.

The youth unemployment rate in Tasmania is 15 per cent in the North and North-West, including Launceston, Devonport and Burnie, and 16.9 per cent in Hobart.

The figures are far higher than the national average of 11.2 per cent.