FUNDING CERTAINTY FOR HOMELESS YOUTH

Front line services which assist children and young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness will have their funding extended to ensure continuity of service, Minister for Family and Community Services Brad Hazzard announced today.

The Homeless Youth Assistance Program is a $54 million, six year initiative of the NSW Government. It provides supported accommodation and services to reintegrate young people with their families or to help transition to longer-term supported accommodation, whilst also supporting them in education, training and jobs.

“I have met young people who have had a really tough life and have ended up without a safe home,” Mr Hazzard said.

“HYAP and the front line services funded through it give these children and young people safety, a home and hope.

“The Premier has identified reducing youth homelessness as a priority and we are working, through HYAP and other measures, to boost by 10 per cent the number of young people successfully transitioning from homelessness services to long term accommodation, including family reconnection, where this is appropriate.”

Mr Hazzard said HYAP Stage 1 service funding will be extended until 31 July 2016. The HYAP Stage 2 select tender will commence by March 2016 with Stage 2 funding secured through until June 2020.

Youth refuge services that assist 13-17 year olds which were funded before HYAP Stage 1 have also been brought under the HYAP funding extension.

This includes the Lillian Howell Project which is sub-contracted through Youth Off the Streets to deliver the Medium Term Homelessness Service for Young Women and Girls; and Detour House Inc  which delivers the Homelessness Support Services for Girls and Young Women with Complex Needs, both of which will be funded through until June 2020.

Rumbalara Youth Refuge operated by Coast Shelter will also receive funding to ensure continuity of service. Coast Shelter has been funded through until 2020 to deliver specialist homelessness services on the Central Coast.