The Victorian Government has announced $50 million in funding for new housing projects for young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Victoria.
The Centre welcomes this announcement and recognises the great strides taken by the State Government to address the rising number of young Victorians, especially those with a care background, experiencing housing insecurity.
The Centre is the co-chair of the Home Stretch reform, which now supports young people leaving foster, kinship and residential care up to the age of 21. We commend the Victorian government’s ongoing commitment to the reform, and acknowledge the profound impact that Home Stretch has had, and continues to have, on the lives of out-of-home care leavers.
The funding announced will integrate housing with education, employment and other support services, or youth housing accommodation and projects focused on young Victorians leaving out of home care. The homes will be in highly accessible locations within walking distance of education, employment, public transport, retail and community services and feature energy efficient design to help tenants keep their bills low
Reggie Chang, a young person with a lived experience of out-of-home care said: “I am thrilled to see the Victorian Government put more funding into the housing sector, and hope that this will prevent many young people from experiencing homelessness. As a result of such interventions, young people in out-of-home care now have more support to make a life for themselves, making them less likely to become homeless like I did aged 18 when leaving foster care.”
