How are young people's experiences of 'home' affecting their engagement with schooling and community?

Little consideration has been given to the influence of housing tenure on young people's developmental pathways. This paper draws on empirical findings from research conducted in the northern suburbs of Adelaide in 2009 to highlight how secure and quality housing tenure, when combined with familial support and positive relationships with teachers and peers, can support schooling and community engagement. The implications of these findings are significant in terms of informing Australian youth policy, especially school retention policies. The findings also highlight the need for housing policies (affecting young people) to recognise the tremendous impact that housing tenure can have on young people's social transitions.