Gerald Lynch
A new program is being launched to try and deal with an influx of youth homelessness throughout Hume and Whittlesea.
According to findings from the most recent census report, children under the age of 10 make up 16 per cent of all individuals accessing homelessness services.
A new pilot program, launched by Merri Outreach Support Services (MOSS), called Bright Start is filling in the gaps for Melbourne’s homelessness youth by providing attentive, individual holistic child focused care that taps into the child’s social, emotional, educational and physical wellbeing.
MOSS general manager of operations Hardeep Siani said although it’s hard to fully predict the program’s output, it will seek to help between 40 and 50 children in its first year, and also noted that there are serious problems to address.
“We have researched and identified that nearly 44 children are living in temporary types of accommodation throughout the area, so it will be our starting point to reach out with services to those children and their parents,” he said.
“We have noticed there is a great link to intergenerational homelessness. When a parent was affected by homelessness, it is most likely their child is also going to enter into the cycle of homelessness and rely on welfare support systems.
“One of the greatest impacts we have witnessed is that more than half of these affected children actually miss out on school and have low school attendance, further hindering their development and causing delayed developmental milestones.”
Haven Home and Vincent’s Care are the two main entry points within a short distance of Hume and Whittlesea that will triage a youth in need and identify what type of support they may need.
The new program, rolling out in the next month, was created in response to the housing crisis in Victoria and will cater to those in the inner north Melbourne area to help stop the homelessness cycle through early intervention and prevention.
“There is an increase in families living in unsafe and inappropriate motels because there isn’t enough housing or crisis accommodation available,” says Emily Courtenay, Program Manager Bright Futures at Merri Outreach Support Service (MOSS).
“Many of the families are experiencing a housing crisis due to family violence and the cost of living.”
“The motels are often overcrowded and far away from the family’s community” continues Emily Courtenay.
The Bright Start program aims to work alongside families in their time of crisis with goals they have identified like school enrollments, school supplies, referrals to essential services, extracurricular activities and attending essential health appointments to try and reduce the negative impact and trauma associated with the homelessness system.
