Angelina Torney, like many young people at the Shepparton Youth Foyer, sought support after making the difficult decision to leave home.
To her, the foyer was a beacon of hope. It would provide her not only with stable accommodation, which would become the foundation of her success, but also with skills, support, connections and countless opportunities to prepare her for independence.
“Before living in a youth foyer, I faced various challenges. My biggest was supporting myself throughout schooling, work and everyday life in a way a kid my age shouldn’t have to,” Ange said.
“I was in Year 12 VCE when I decided my life needed to change for the better, so I left home and was homeless in the month I was waiting to get into the foyer.”
It was a bold and daunting decision, but Ange is thankful she made it.
“The wait was worth it to get where I am now, and if I hadn’t waited, I wouldn’t be here,” she said.
Ange spoke of how the foyer had helped her in countless ways — big and small — from educational and experience-based volunteer programs to community breakfast programs that made getting through difficult times just that little bit easier.
“(Being homeless) made my education plummet,” she said.
“Luckily, when I got into the foyer, they prioritised my educational needs alongside my mental and physical health.
“This helped incredibly, but I was still struggling.
“To help, foyer gave me an end goal to work towards and supported me to get there.
“I now work in the insurance broking industry and couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out.
“A year ago, I never would have thought I’d be in this position, but the foyer helped me realise my potential, and for that, I couldn’t be more thankful.”
Ange has achieved many things during her time at the foyer, including a Certificate I in Developing Dependence, participation in volunteer work and a job she loves that will set her up for the future — a future she can now look towards with hope and confidence.
The numbers are on her side: 80 per cent of young people living in a youth foyer exit into safe and stable housing, 65 per cent gain secure and decent work and are 60 per cent less likely to engage with the justice system.
The success is evident; however, not everybody can access such a facility. Shepparton is one of just 16 accredited foyers nationwide.
The Youth Foyer aims to have 50 foyers across Australia by 2050. A big goal, but one that is backed by overwhelming demand.
“More than 33 communities are seeking investment to build new youth foyers in response to urgent needs of young people for housing and pathways to education and employment,” Youth Foyer chief executive Liz Cameron-Smith said.
Young people aged 12 to 24 make up 23 per cent of the homeless population, primarily due to challenges regarding education, employment and family violence and breakdown.
There were an estimated 28,000 homeless young people on census night in 2021, a figure that has likely grown since then due to the rising cost of houses and living.
“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,” Ms Cameron-Smith said.
“These crises affect not just the future of these young people but also the future of our country and economy.”
After receiving no direct allocation in the federal budget, FoyerInvest (a group of 12 other community organisations alongside the Foyer Foundation) must compete for part of the $1 billion grant funding under the National Housing Infrastructure Facility.
It is asking for $184 million in funding to immediately construct 10 new youth foyers around Australia to meet urgent needs. Locations are planned for Mildura, Lilydale, inner Gippsland and Berwick in Victoria.
To learn more about the foyer or to reach out for assistance, visit the Foyer Foundation website.