Hope to Home in Melton

The Hope to Home in Melton pilot program was completed in 2018/2019 and is now in a funding transition phase while Hope Street explores sustainable government funding opportunities. The evaluation research conducted by Victoria University and launched in August 2018 noted that the Hope to Home model was highly successful in achieving its aims, is unique and scalable to other local government areas across Victoria in diverting young people (at risk of) experiencing homelessness from crisis and accommodation services within the homelessness service system.

The program has accomplished its primary goal of assisting young people into the private rental market. By participating in the program, young people also began developing a rental history, as well as gaining valuable knowledge and skills relating to securing and maintaining leases.

Hope to Home in Whittlesea is currently continuing thanks to funding from Hope Street and corporate partner ALH Group. Hope Street is working to secure ongoing recurrent funding of the Melton program.

The program assists young people to:

gain a place they can call home that is affordable, sustainable and long-term
build their knowledge base to maintain employment, education and training, connection to family, friends and other healthy relationships in their local community
develop valuable tenancy life skills and establish a tenancy history, enabling access to other tenancies in the future and reducing the probability of returning to the Homelessness Service System

What does the program offer?

Rental subsidies and joint lease signatories to facilitate 30 young people and their children's transition into private rental accommodation (eg one-bedroom and two-bedroom units)
Tailored training/employment opportunities from local business
A range of workshops to help young people acquire life skills
Case management support to promote capacity building and maximise outcomes for young people

Hope Street has partnered with Gandel Philanthropy, Raine and Horne Melton and the City of Melton to implement this pilot program. Funding from a range of sources (brokerage, Hope Street funds, business partners and philanthropy) is used to provide subsidised rent over a period of six months. Over the six months this subsidy will be staggered until, at the end of the six months, the young person has the capabilities to independently pay the rent on their own.

How can young people enter this program?

Young people must be:

18 - 25 years of age
individuals or part of a couple / family (eg siblings, single parent and child, couple and child)
currently in our Hope Street in Melton program (internal client referrals only) or referral through housing services in Melton
linked to the Melton local government area
linked or willing to be linked to education, employment or training
in receipt of an income that allows for independent living (purchase food, pay rent, travel, etc)
able to perform a basic level of independent living skills in activities such as cooking, cleaning, shopping, self regulated routine
willing and have the capacity to participate in the program

Please contact us for further information about the program.

OUTCOMES SUMMARY, 2016-2019

From January 2016 – June 2019 across the City of Melton and the City of Whittlesea:

87 people housed across 40 tenancies (55 young people and 32 dependent children);
Average client age: 20 years;
Average time between commencing program and being housed in private rental: 5.5 weeks;
Client situation prior to program: most were relying on temporary, unsuitable accommodation with family and friends;
Percentage of tenancies that lasted longer than 6 months: 75%;
Percentage of clients who were within the homelessness service sector prior to the program: 31%;
Range of services provided:
- Assistance finding houses available to rent;
- Assistance with inspections and the application process;
- Liaising with landlords;
- Securing properties (bond and rent);
- Setting up the house for the occupancy;
- Provision of cash brokerage and shopping vouchers which helped clients maintain their tenancies;
- Tenancy trainings and mentoring; and
- Support to pursue employment and education.

From July 2018 to June 2019, 10 young people and five dependent children in the City of Whittlesea joined Hope to Home, whilst previous clients in both City of Whittlesea and City of Melton received ongoing case management and tenancy support.

Learn more about the young people supported, and our impact, from the reports below.

Download

Hope to Home, Whittlesea and Melton Report 2019

Over a two-year period, Victoria University undertook a rigorous research evaluation of the Hope to Home model piloted in Melton and Whittlesea. An interim report was provided during the 2017-18 reporting period and a final report released in August 2018 at the Hope to Home Research Evaluation Report 2018 Launch.

Hope to Home Evaluation Report (2018, Gill, P., Ooi, D., and Chiodo, L., Victoria University, Melbourne)