Young teens who turn to homelessness services will be better supported with 24/7 safe accommodation and increased resources to reunite them with their families, or appropriate longer term carers.
The new services are funded to June 2020 and cover every region in NSW, offering:
- more beds for young people in crisis accommodation across a number of locations in Central Coast, Illawarra, Nepean Blue Mountains and Greater Sydney
- 24/7 support and assistance
- ongoing casework support for young people and their families
- practical assistance to meet costs for travel and school (thus removing barriers to education and training).
Minister for Family and Community Services Brad Hazzard said the new services delivered expanded support to young teens aged 12 to 15.
“Services will deal with the crisis and importantly the resources are there to support a young person to return safely to their homes and rebuild their links with family, kin and cultural connections,” Mr Hazzard said.
“Where returning home is not possible, each young person will be supported into more appropriate longer term housing and care arrangements.”
Combatting youth homelessness and helping young people successfully move from crisis care to long term accommodation is one of the Premier's 12 priorities.
