Liam McNally
Hope Street Youth and Family Services, a leading Melton youth-housing support service has welcomed recent government investment but hopes it’s the “first step” of many in addressing youth homelessness.
Housing Minister Colin Brooks announced a $50 million investment on Monday, February 13 that will build more than 130 new homes for young people across Victoria.
“The stability of having a roof over their head will support these young people to learn and develop, setting them up for success in the rest of their lives,” Mr Brooks said.
The investment will be shared between eight registered housing providers and community service organisations to build ten new housing projects across the state.
Successful providers include Hope Street, Melbourne City Mission, The Salvos, Kids Under Cover, Beyond Housing, Mallee Accommodation and Support and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.
The funding is part of the state fovernment’s $5.3 billion Big Housing Build. The government said through the Big Housing Build and other major programs, it’s delivering more than 12,000 social and affordable new homes while creating up to 10,000 jobs every year over four years.
Hope Street Youth and Family Services chief executive Donna Bennett said she’s “delighted” that the state government has invested in “such worthwhile youth-specific projects across the state for disadvantaged young people and young families experiencing homelessness”.
“After such an extended period of time where youth investment hasn’t kept pace with other social housing investment it’s positive to see some change,” she said.
However, Ms Bennett said that with 6000 young people experiencing homelessness at any one time, “this has to be the first step”.
“The Youth Housing grant round of $50m is .94 per cent of the Big Housing Build’s $5.3billion, yet 16 per cent homeless people in Victoria are aged 15 to 24,” she said.
“In fact, it is highly likely the figure is much higher due the hidden nature of youth homelessness.”
Ms Bennett noted that “As a specialist youth homelessness organisation, Hope Street is steadfast in exploring new housing and support models to prevent youth homelessness.”
Hope Street is currently working in partnership with the Health and Community Services Union, the Australian Manufacturers Union and a local developer to create a youth modular housing micro-community for young people consisting of around 12 houses in the City of Melton.
Ms Bennett said a submission to the state budget for the project will be made.
“There is a lot of work to do to ensure young people are not left behind with housing and homelessness resources and Hope Street is committed to working in partnership with government and local communities to secure future Big Build investments for this purpose,” she said.
