An integrated national strategy is urgently required to combat youth homelessness, according to Peter Kell, CEO of Anglicare Sydney.

A recent National Youth Commission report, estimates 35,000 young people are homeless each night " almost double the number since the Burdekin inquiry in 1989.

Yet, only 14 per cent of the entire homeless population can access supported accommodation, leaving one in two young people who apply to fend for themselves.

As one of 91 community groups which made written submissions to the National Youth Commission's (NYC's) inquiry into youth homelessness, Anglicare Sydney supports the call to increase crisis housing as key to transforming Australia's poor national record of assisting young people caught in the cycle of homelessness.

"The NYC has proposed a comprehensive plan covering the prevention of youth homelessness… Now it's up to the government and community to make the money and resources available in order to break the cycle…and help young people…" Mr Kell says.