Hope Street Youth and Family Services will open a 12-bedroom First Response Youth Service in time for Christmas, offering supported crisis accommodation solutions to young people and families experiencing homelessness in the City of Whittlesea, Victoria.
On 5 December, the Hope Street First Response Youth Service was officially launched – becoming a leading response to youth and young family homelessness in Victoria. The Property Industry Foundation came onboard the project in 2022, offering beneficiary funding to support the build of eight bedrooms, alongside the project’s key partners Mirvac, City of Whittlesea and the State Government’s Big Housing Build.
Matt Walton, Development Director at HOME, a leader in the BTR sector, was on the project’s PCG group and secured pro bono furnishings for the centre. “I first became aware of Hope Street First Response Youth Service through their inspiring work providing crisis accommodation for young people,” says Matt. “They play a vital role in supporting vulnerable youth, offering not just a safe place to stay but also the guidance and resources needed to rebuild their lives. Partnering with Hope Street on this project has been an incredible opportunity to contribute to their life-changing efforts, helping many young people who might otherwise face homelessness.”
A member of our Haven Projects Committee in Victoria, Matt provided invaluable industry knowledge and pro bono support to the project. “I utilised my experience in project delivery and management to make a meaningful and practical contribution to the project’s success. On the PCG committee, I focused on overseeing the commercial aspects of the project, ensuring its financial viability and success. Additionally, I provided guidance wherever possible and leveraged my network of suppliers to secure materials either pro bono or at discounted rates, helping to reduce costs and maximise the project’s impact.”
Tim Slattery, Victorian Board of Advisors Chair says the project was an opportunity for the Foundation to advance youth housing solutions in Victoria. “Hope Street is an excellent charity operating partner for the Foundation and this project is a great opportunity to make a life-changing difference to a relatively large number of kids who would otherwise be affected by homelessness – the lion’s share of what the Foundation does is build bedrooms so this is a great project for us to be involved with.”
Whittlesea is an expanding area with a need for homelessness support services. “The most recent data showed 854 people were homeless in Whittlesea on census night,” says Tim. “Having a safe roof over these kids and young families’ heads is a key step to stabilising their lives and providing them an opportunity to break the cycle of homelessness. This is a fantastic project as it enables the Foundation to do what we do best – building homes to combat youth homelessness through a collective approach. The Foundation is stronger and more effective through bringing the property industry together for this great cause.”
Assisting up to 100 young people every year, Hope Street’s First Response Youth Service will offer modern and highly functional 8-bed communal living, 2 x 2-bedroom units for young families (with one unit allocated specifically for young Aboriginal families) and working spaces for consultants, specialist practitioners and First Response Youth Service case managers.
“Young people experiencing homelessness not only need a roof over their head, but also practical support to address the issues that caused or contributed to their homelessness and the impact of being homeless,” says Hope St CEO Donna Bennett. “The First Response Youth Service will provide stability and a safe and secure space for young people and young families to begin to focus on more than day-to-day survival. Instead, they can begin their recovery, reflect, plan and create a pathway to achieving their immediate and short-term goals.”
The First Response Youth Service will have a transformative impact on homeless and at-risk youth in the Whittlesea area. “It will offer young people not only a secure place to stay but also access to essential support services, giving them the opportunity to work toward a brighter future,” says Matt. “By addressing homelessness at a critical time in their lives, this project will help break the cycle of disadvantage and create lasting positive change for many vulnerable young people in the community.”
