Support lacking for young homeless in Gippsland

More than 1300 young people in Gippsland experience homelessness each year, according to Quantum Support Services.

However, Gippsland has only 14 crisis beds available for young people seeking emergency accommodation.

Quantum, a Gippsland-based support service, is calling for a better solution to support young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Gippsland.

Quantum Support Services chief executive Natalie McDonald said many young people in Gippsland were unable to get the support needed to change their lives and break the cycle of disadvantage.

Ms McDonald said it was estimated more than 1300 young people experienced homelessness in inner Gippsland each year. However, the region has only 14 crisis beds for young people and a further 16 beds for medium-term accommodation.

“Our young people experiencing homelessness need more than a housing solution, they also need wrap around support, access to schools, further learning, jobs and life skills,” Ms McDonald said. “This is why Quantum is working to bring a youth foyer to Gippsland.”

Ms McDonald said the youth foyer wasn’t just about Quantum, it was a model for Gippsland with multiple partners.

“It is about breaking the cycle of disadvantage that often extends across generations,” Ms McDonald said.

“The Foyer Foundation’s recently commissioned report ‘Under One Roof ’ found 80 per cent of young people who went through a youth foyer transitioned to safe and stable housing, more than two thirds were in employment on exit and had improved overall health outcomes throughout their lifetime,” she added.

The housing crisis also is having a big impact on Australia’s essential workers, with a new report finding soaring rents were pricing them out of their communities.

National housing campaign Everybody’s Home released the “Priced Out” report, stating the average employee was spending around twothirds of their income on housing.

Workers in aged care, child care, hospitality, postal, meat packing and freight are among the hardest hit, spending most of their pay cheques on rent. Those on the lowest awards would be left with around $20 a day after paying rent, based on the capital city average, the report said.

Everybody’s Home spokesperson Maiy Azize said essential workers were the backbone of our communities, yet they were being priced out of them because of the unsustainable rises in rents.

“More and more essential workers are being pushed into serious rental stress,” Ms Azize said. “Virtually no region in Australia is affordable for our aged care workers, early childhood carers, cleaners, nurses and many other essential workers we rely on.”

“Our essential workers are used to dealing with crises, but this is one that calls for serious action from the federal government,” she said.