Sofa Surfing and Hidden Homelessness: Why It Matters More than We Think

When people think about homelessness, they often picture someone sleeping rough or staying in emergency accommodation. However, for many young people, the experience looks very different.

Sofa surfing, also known as couch surfing, is one of the most common and least visible forms of homelessness. It involves moving from one place to another, staying temporarily with friends, extended family or acquaintances without a stable or secure home.

Because it can appear informal or short term, it is often overlooked. In reality, it can be just as disruptive and harmful as more visible forms of homelessness.

Sofa surfing or couch surfing refers to living temporarily in other people’s homes without long-term security or a clear place to stay. This might mean sleeping on a couch, sharing overcrowded spaces or moving frequently between households.

Unlike rough sleeping, sofa surfing can be hidden from view. A young person may still be attending school or maintaining daily routines, making it harder for others to recognise that they are experiencing homelessness.

This form of housing instability often sits between crisis and stability, where a person has a place to sleep for now but no certainty about what comes next.

Sofa surfing is considered a form of hidden homelessness because it lacks the safety, stability and permanence of a secure home.

Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that many people experiencing homelessness are not sleeping on the streets, but are instead staying temporarily with others. This highlights how much of homelessness exists outside of what is immediately visible.

Academic research also reinforces this. Couch surfing is widely recognised as a form of hidden homelessness that is often underrepresented in official data, despite making up a significant portion of those without stable housing

This means that the true scale of homelessness is likely much larger than what is captured through traditional measures.

There is rarely a single reason why a young person begins sofa surfing. It is usually the result of multiple pressures building over time.

Common contributing factors include:

• Family conflict or breakdown
• Financial stress within the household
• Mental health challenges
• Experiences of neglect, abuse or unsafe environments
• Difficulty accessing stable or affordable housing

Local studies have shown how early this can begin. A survey of students on Sydney’s Northern Beaches identified young people already at risk of homelessness, along with many more needing support for issues such as mental health and family conflict.

Importantly, many young people in these situations do not identify themselves as homeless. Moving between friends’ homes can feel temporary or even normalised, which can delay access to support and youth mental health support services.

While sofa surfing may appear safer than sleeping rough, it comes with its own set of challenges.

Unstable housing can affect every part of a young person’s life, including their ability to study, work and maintain relationships. Constant movement can lead to:

• Disrupted education and school attendance
• Increased stress and anxiety
• Lack of privacy and personal space
• Greater exposure to unsafe or unpredictable environments

Over time, this instability can have a lasting impact on wellbeing and increase the need for ongoing youth mental health support.

Experiences like couch surfing are linked to reduced psychological wellbeing, often due to the loss of control and stability in daily life

One of the biggest challenges with sofa surfing is that it often goes unnoticed.

Young people may still appear to be functioning day to day. They might attend school, spend time with friends and avoid drawing attention to their situation. Without obvious signs, teachers, peers and even extended family may not realise what is happening.

Hidden homelessness can also fall outside traditional support systems. If someone is not accessing services or identifying as homeless, they may not receive the help and support they need.

This creates a gap where vulnerable young people can slip through unnoticed.

Recognising sofa surfing as homelessness is an important step toward providing the right support at the right time.

Early intervention can help prevent situations from escalating into long-term homelessness. When young people feel supported, understood and connected, they are more likely to access services and make decisions that improve their stability.

Support can take many forms, including:

• Safe and stable accommodation options
• Access to education and youth mental health support
• Family support and mediation services
• Community programs that build connection and resilience

Addressing hidden homelessness requires a broader understanding of what homelessness looks like and a commitment to responding before crisis point.

Sofa surfing is often dismissed as temporary or informal, but for many young people, it reflects a deeper lack of stability and security.

Understanding it as a form of homelessness helps shift the focus from short-term solutions to long-term support. It also highlights the importance of noticing the less visible experiences that can have a significant impact on a young person’s life.

By recognising sofa surfing for what it is, families, communities and support services can work together to create more stable pathways forward, supported by accessible support and early intervention services.

Support is available for young people experiencing housing instability, including those who are sofa surfing. Services delivered by Mission Australia provide pathways to safe, stable housing alongside practical and emotional support, helping people find and maintain a secure place to live. For those needing additional support around wellbeing, mental health or substance use, Sir David Martin Foundation’s resources page offers guidance and connections to services that can support recovery and long-term stability.