This Evidence to Action Note outlines key findings from the evaluation of the Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP) and how the NSW Department of Communities and Justice is responding to the evaluation findings.

The Homeless Youth Assistance Program (HYAP) provides integrated support and accommodation services to unaccompanied children aged 12 to 15 years who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The program aims to reconnect children with their families and broader support networks or support them to transition to longer-term supported accommodation.

Key findings:

• HYAP was of some benefit for children who are in the early stages of risk and had no prior involvement with the child protection system (44%).
• HYAP had little impact for the highly vulnerable children who had a child protection history (56%).
• Variations in the type and availability of local services for children was a key systematic barrier to the successful delivery of HYAP.
• Almost a third (30%) of young people who accessed HYAP went on to access Specialist Homelessness Services after they turned 16, mostly due to housing, family relationship, or family breakdown reasons.