Youth-specific strategies to address homelessness were a key focus during a recent meeting between The Bridge Youth Service and state Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell.
The meeting, prompted by discussions at a Youth Parliament event in Shepparton, also addressed the need for increased funding for early intervention services and more affordable crisis accommodation.
Former The Bridge Youth Service ambassador Lauren Beks highlighted the lack of representation from those with lived experiences of homelessness.
The Bridge Youth Service offers various programs to assist young people, including those who are pregnant or are young parents, in securing safe and affordable housing.
One such initiative is the Sustaining Tenancies at Risk program, which helps young people maintain their tenancies and overcome related obstacles.
“One of the first things I said when I became the minister for housing and homelessness was, ‘I am not the expert on this’, because I have never known what it’s like not to have somewhere to sleep tonight or not to know when my next meal is coming,” Ms Lovell said.
Specialist youth worker Hayley Rowan said one of the most important things was collaboration.
“I think we work really well with the local housing services,” she said.
“We have meetings with the other services in the local area and communicate around support periods.”
Ms Lovell acknowledged the need for a sector-wide review and potential redesign.
“We are not getting to a point where we’re reducing the need, it just keeps on increasing and that shows that there is something not right with the programs the way they are,” she said.