Hope Street's plans for a 24/7 mobile outreach service in Melton are at a standstill after the Victorian Government revealed that it would not be committing funding to the youth homelessness initiative.

The City of Melton is continuing to experience extensive population growth and is likely to do so for the next two decades. This growth is accompanied by an increase in young people finding themselves homeless due to family breakdown, lack of affordable housing, and family violence. There is a real lack of crisis accommodation for young people living in outer areas such as Melton. The nearest emergency facility is over 25kms away. In the absence of emergency support, young people seek refuge elsewhere and as a consequence often disconnect from their other support systems like school, employment and extended family.

Hope Street has been working closely with various stakeholders in the Melton local government area to establish an emergency accommodation facility along with specialist wrap around support services for over 220 young people experiencing homelessness. The outreach service would work with the proposed emergency accommodation centre, providing at risk young people with stable and safe accommodation and youth-specific supports.

Speaking with Sumeyya Ilanbey from Star Weekly, Hope Street CEO, Donna Bennett, said that the government’s decision would come as a huge blow to the Melton community and its homeless youth:

It was about trying to address a need ...[this decision will] force young people to remain in unsafe situations.

By not giving this to young people, we’re perpetuating their trauma, and we’re perpetuating homelessness and the crisis aspect of homelessness.

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Meanwhile, Hope Street's grassroots support continues to grow with Copperfield College students and their teacher working hard to raise funds and to collect food and toiletries for youth who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.  Thank you!

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Help break down the walls for homeless and at risk Melton youth

Learn more about this important initiative through our Campaign Resources.