The Youth Accommodation Association is a peak body that seeks to end homelessness in NSW & Australia wide.



From its initial inception in 1987, then known as the Youth Refuge Action Group, YAA has sought to represent the needs of young people at risk of or experiencing homelessness and those services who support them.

The Association is a network of member services working with young people, government organisations, concerned individuals, and other organizations that may deal with young people. What joins us together is the conviction to ensure that young people receive appropriate support through a comprehensive youth housing and support system.

By working with a range of NGO’s, Government departments & Community members, YAA has sought to develop a range of policies to improve the service provision to youth accommodation services & to keep youth homelessness firmly on the political agenda. YAA works closely with other peak organizations such as Homelessness ACT/NSW, The Women’s Refuge Resource Centre & the Youth Action Policy Association (YAPA) among others. We work on a National level through the National Youth Coalition of Housing & the Homelessness Australia.

YAA has developed diverse key service delivery areas in its effort to advocate for young homeless people  and to develop the sector through service capacity development.

Policy and Structural Advocacy

Advocacy and policy responses to issues relevant to service providers and community members effected by homelessness. A significant stratergy is to ensure that the needs of homeless young people remain on the political agenda and that members are supported to respond to local, state and national issues that effect young people.

Research & Sector Development
The YAA undertakes a number of Research & Sector Development projects to assist services better respond and prevent youth homelessness. These include an annual conference and the publication "Undercurrent" a youth homelessness journal.


Services for Young People
YAA has a dedicated Homeless Youth Support Worker which provides a simple and reliable way for young people and workers to connect with suitable accommodation and support services via our YEAL service. This includes a register of vacancies for emergency and supported housing services. YAA also provides direct services to young people in the Canterbury/Bankstown region of Sydney.

The YAA Health Division
The YAA Health Division aims to increase health services to homeless and at risk young people across New South Wales. This service is provided through capacity building training to youth workers and other interested people who work with young people, advocating for the needs and rights of homeless young people on the health and youth health agendas and developing and distributing resources to aid people in approaching health with homeless and at risk young people.