Alex* had just turned 18 when they packed their bags and left their family home two years ago.
After enduring years of domestic violence, they thought it would be safer to sleep on the street.
They did not expect to be sleeping rough two years later.
"I moved in with my partner but that didn't last," Alex said.
"I ended up couch surfing, staying in hotels, backpackers, and on the street.
Youth workers found Alex earlier this year camping in a wet north Queensland backyard with water pooling around electric cables near their tent.
Staff were able to find Alex one of the few beds available in a local homeless shelter.
"Now I'm looking for volunteering opportunities and employment and working to get my learner's [licence]," Alex said.
Critical accommodation shortages are prolonging homelessness for the growing number of young people like Alex who are experiencing hardship in Townsville.
Queensland Youth Services estimate more than 50 teenagers are experiencing homelessness in the city each day.
Most of the teenagers looking for a place to live are exiting the child safety system or fleeing domestic violence in the family home.
Desperate measures
Youth workers have told the ABC they deal with first-hand accounts of young people, desperate for a place to live, enduring abusive relationships and engaging in prostitution.
It was no surprise to Dr Phil Flint, the regional leader of Mission Australia.
"Forced to either stay in a dysfunctional, violent relationship, or in places that are unsafe, they make choices to find a bed for the night that may not be very safe and or in their best interests."
Seeking shelter
Queensland Youth Services CEO Wendy Lang said only two youth emergency shelters exist in Townsville.
"One is girl's accommodation which will take six young people. The other is a co-ed, but again they only take six," Ms Lang said.
"Basically, we have 12 beds in Townsville for emergency accommodation."
Finding a bed for a child aged 15 or younger is even more challenging, as the current shelters only accommodate teenagers aged 16 and older.
Rental shortages
Groups like Mission Australia and Queensland Youth Services are using government funding to lease properties for young homeless people, but they are in short supply in a city with a rental vacancy rate of 0.7 per cent.
Sally Elliot said she had not seen such a tight market in her 32 years as a Townsville real estate agent.
"We're currently getting 15 applications per property," she said.
"You're competing on average with 14 other potential tenants, which is where it is really important as a tenant to have your slate clean, your ducks in a row, meet your affordability criteria, have good references — and it's tough."
Ms Elliot said no one precluded first-time tenants or at-risk young people from securing a rental property with the support of parents and services.
"But it is tough, because all our accommodation, even our motels are full," she said.
Youth foyer overdue
The Queensland government committed to building a 40-bed youth foyer in 2017, but after consultation with the community, the project was delayed and relocated to the TAFE campus in Pimlico.
The Member for Mundingburra, Les Walker, said construction still had not started, but the youth foyer should be in operation in 2023.
However, local support workers were concerned it would have little impact on the worsening crisis and wanted more social housing built.
The youth foyer will only be accessible for teenagers aged 16 and older who are undertaking supervised education, training, and employment.
"We're looking after people who are ready to change and need support," Wendy Lang said.
"They might begin education or employment when they are in that accommodation.
"But with the youth foyer model, you have to already be at that stage before you could move in."
Alex hopes the worst of it is behind them.
"Hopefully soon I'll have more sense of identity," Alex said.
"I'll be in a more stable position to allow me to work on my mental health and gain employment or return to study."
*Name has been changed for privacy
