HOMES FOR YOUNG HOMELESS

The NSW Government is taking steps to reduce youth homelessness  by trialling a new inner city private rental subsidy to assist young people into secure rental accommodation, education, training and jobs.

“The Premier has made reducing youth homelessness and breaking the cycle of chronic homelessness one of his priorities,” said Minister for Family and Community Services and Social Housing, Brad Hazzard.

“Young people record the highest rate of homelessness among any age group and if we can turn their lives around, with secure and stable housing and education and jobs, they can have a future of hope rather than despair.”

Young people aged 16-24 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are provided with a support worker and are required to engage in education, training and job seeking activities to be eligible for the subsidy.

The trial in Sydney follows the success of the Youth Private Rental Subsidy pilot in the Hunter New England region.

The NSW Government is partnering with inner city youth  homelessness service, Launchpad Youth Community for the trial of two shared households of three people, which can be expanded to assist 20 young people over three years. Young people will pay rent at 25% of their income, with the NSW Government subsiding remaining rent.

Launchpad CEO Cindi Petersen said: “Launchpad provides outreach case management support to young people to help them develop the skills they need to successfully transition into adulthood.

“We support more than 70 young people in transitional housing, which is short to medium term housing funded by the Government but, sadly, due to issues of affordability they are unable to exit into the private rental market.

“This creates a bottle neck keeping young people in the social housing system.”

The NSW Government is supporting  thousands of struggling households in the private rental market including subsidies for women and children escaping domestic violence and vulnerable young people.