Major youth housing investment welcomed

Mission Australia has welcomed today’s announcement by Minister for Housing and Homelessness Clare O’Neil of more than $300 million to deliver 520 new crisis and transitional homes for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

The investment through the Housing Australia Future Fund Crisis and Transitional Program will support more than 13,000 young people and includes funding for Youth Foyers, independent living and shared accommodation models.

A significant investment in young people

Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister welcomed the investment, saying a safe home and the right support can make a significant difference to a young person’s future.

“We welcome this significant investment in young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

“Our frontline services see every day the positive impact that a safe home and the right support can make. We also know from our recent An Unequal Foundation report that young people experiencing homelessness or housing instability can face disruption to their education and employment, poorer wellbeing and weaker support networks.

“When housing becomes uncertain, it can affect so much more than where a young person sleeps. It can make it harder to stay connected to education or work and can erode confidence about the future.

“That’s why this investment matters. A home is more than a roof over someone’s head. Young people need the right support around them to build confidence, develop the skills to live independently and stay connected to education, employment and their community.”

Youth Foyers combine housing and support

Ms Callister said: “We particularly welcome the inclusion of funding for Youth Foyers. We know this model works through our experience at the Townsville Youth Foyer, where safe and secure housing is combined with education, employment and life-skills support.

“Our Youth Foyer has now been operating for two years, and 64 young people have called it home. Of those who have moved on, 95 per cent have a secure home base, 87 per cent feel confident managing and maintaining a tenancy and 85 per cent have achieved their education goals.

“These outcomes show what is possible when young people have stability, support and someone in their corner.”

We know what works. We need to do more of it

Ms Callister continued: “This is a significant investment, and we need to keep building on it.

“We know what works, but we need to do more of it, with more dedicated housing for young people, more Youth Foyers and continued investment in early intervention and prevention, like the Reconnect program.

“Every young person should have a safe place to call home, the support to build their independence and the opportunity to build a secure and fulfilling future.”

Mission Australia continues to call for:

• New transitional housing and support for 15,000 young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness each year
• 50 quality Youth Foyers across the country by 2030, including three First Nations-led Youth Foyers, to help young people build stable futures through housing, education and employment support
• Extend the Reconnect program until 2032 and invest at least $100 million into expanding its geographic reach and capacity to target younger age cohorts and prevent youth homelessness
• A significant boost to the number of social and affordable housing so they make up six per cent of homes over the medium term, and 10 per cent over the longer term.
• A dedicated $500 million Homelessness Prevention Transformation Fund to help people before they reach crisis point
• Long-term, culturally safe and community-led housing solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Raise the maximum threshold for Commonwealth Rent Assistance by 60% and ensure it remains an effective payment for those struggling to pay rent.