Huge boost for Youth Foyer plans

The Foyer Foundation, which wants to build Youth Foyers in Caboolture and Mango Hill, has welcomed news of billions of dollars for housing in Tuesday’s Federal budget.

FoyerInvest, a consortium of 13 community organisations, has been lobbying for $184 million to build 10 new 40-unit Youth Foyers in the next three years. Its target is 50 by 2030.

These centres, for those aged 15-24, would help house and support more than 40,000 young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Australia.

“We are shovel ready today," Foyer Foundation CEO Liz Cameron-Smith said.

The Mango Hill Youth Foyer would be beside The Y senior secondary vocational school, on Halpine Dr, which has strong links to vocational education and training.

Y Qld is leading plans for the Mango Hill Foyer focussing on culturally safe and responsive on-site services for First Nations young people.

A foyer in Caboolture would be alongside the TAFE and use its services, including childcare, transport, connection to additional student supports and a canteen.

Wesley Mission Queensland, already the provider at Foyer Logan, is leading plans for the proposed Foyer in Caboolture.

There are 16 investment-ready locations: Mango Hill, Caboolture (Qld); Wyong, Penrith, Orange, Dubbo, Tweed Heads (NSW); Inner Gippsland, Berwick, Lilydale, Mildura (Vic); Clovelly Park (SA); Albany, Broome (WA); Alice Springs (NT) and another Victoria site to be confirmed.

“We need to ensure that every dollar of this significant investment delivers a high return and is spent on projects that have a track record of delivering strong outcomes,” Ms Cameron-Smith said.

“Building more Youth Foyers will directly address some of Australia’s biggest problems across three fronts — the housing crisis, cost-of-living crisis and domestic violence crisis.

“Demand for Youth Foyers is continuing to rise, with more than 33 communities seeking investment in response to the urgent needs of young people for housing and pathways to education and employment.

“These are young people with enormous skills, talents and capabilities that could be part of our future workforce as Australia faces a growing skills shortage across critical sectors.

"They need the right launchpad for this future, now.”

Cameron-Smith had more than 30 meetings with decision makers over two days at Parliament House in March.

These meetings included discussions with key government offices, including the Prime Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Housing, and Minister for Skills and Training.