More than 900 young people and their children have been helped by Hope Street’s First Response Youth Service in Melton.
The service first opened in 2018 and provides emergency emergency refuge accommodation and outreach services, with construction of a second site in Whittlesea underway.
Of the young parents who have so far engaged with Hope Street services, more than 90 per cent had improved access to safety for their children, according to the service.
“Hope Street helped me to navigate through different decisions I had to make. They helped me with baby things, food vouchers and moral support, ” said Anna (not her real name), a young mum who received support in Melton.
Hope Street found young people whom engaged with its services were 94 per cent more likely to have a connection to community services, 77 per cent had improved mental health, 70 per cent had improved physical health, and 63 per cent of young people exited into safe and secure housing, up from 30 per cent before help from Hope Street.
Speaking in the lead up to Youth Homelessness Matters Day on April 17, Hope Street chief executive Donna Bennet said the success of the program was behind the decision to expand it to Whittlesea.
“Hope Street is excited to continue this important first response youth service and be a part of the Melton community in a way that supports young people to achieve their potential,” she said.
“Statistically however, with an estimated 28,200 young people aged 12–24 years experiencing homelessness on any one night, this is a national crisis.
“The federal government needs to protect funding through legislation for diverse youth homelessness support, accommodation and housing models, including guaranteed social and public housing for young people.
“Given this national emergency impacting the most vulnerable citizens, governments with wider community support need to be bold and significantly.”
