Nearly 46,000 children and young Australians up to 24 years will experience homelessness every night, according to Kids Under Cover.
Of those, 38,300 have sought help from specialist homeless services without being accompanied by a parent or guardian, according to a February report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The stats are most likely an underestimate given children around the ages of 10-14 years are unlikely to approach a specialist homelessness service, Kids Under Cover says.
The charity is using Homeless Week from Saturday to call on state and federal governments to pump money into programs that will steer them away from an adulthood without a home.
More investment is needed to support youth most at risk of entering a long-term cycle of homeless, Kids Under Cover CEO Stephen Nash says.
"At least half of the adults you see sleeping rough today first experienced homelessness when they were young," Mr Nash said.
"Co-ordinated provision of housing and support has been effectively ending homelessness for individuals for some time.
"The key to ending homelessness at a societal level is preventing people from entering the cycle to begin with. There needs to be a far greater focus on identifying risk factors and reaching the right people early."
After a week when inflation numbers showed even those with homes are finding it harder to pay mortgages or rent, Australia's housing crisis has federal politicians on the back foot.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has conceded housing is a "defining issue" for the economy as an election approaches.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese installed Clare O'Neil as Housing and Homelessness Minister in a cabinet reshuffle in July, replacing Julie Collins in the portfolio which will be a hot topic leading up to the 2025 election.
