Youth Foyer proposal for Cairns to address vulnerable youth

Housing advocates are pushing for an $8m solution to what they say is an unprecedented youth homeless crisis in Cairns. HOW IT WILL HELP

FUNDS to bring a 40-bed homeless shelter up to scratch and $8m for a long-term solution for vulnerable youth will be two issues State Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch will be asked to resolve when she visits Cairns on Wednesday.

The Quigley St homeless shelter at Bungalow was inexplicably closed by the state government in early 2020 and State MP for Cairns Michael Healy said it was a ministerial decision.

Cairns housing advocate Sally Watson says Youth Foyers like this one at Logan are an essential component of the solution to a lack of sustainable youth housing in the region.

The Cairns Youth Housing and Homelessness Working Group, led by SHAC executive officer Sally Watson, has put forward a business case for an $8m Youth Foyer that would comprise 35 one-bedroom and five two-bedroom fully self-contained units staffed 24/7 by professional support workers.

It would cost an estimated $1.5m annually to run.

There are 17 Youth Foyers operating nationwide and Ms Watson said it was a model that provided not only housing, but mentoring, coaching, education and income pathways.

The Cairns Youth Housing and Homelessness Working Group wants a Youth Foyer similar to this one at Logan in Brisbane.

“Young people move from a reliance on welfare and support services to a place where they can access education or training, pay rent, live independently and earn an income,” Ms Watson said.

“There is an unprecedented homelessness crisis for young people in Cairns – the health and wellbeing of young people in our region are critically jeopardised by a lack of appropriate and affordable accommodation.”

She said Youth Foyers were an evidence-backed internationally implemented model to support young people committed to building their skills and capabilities.

A 40-bed Youth Foyer is under way in Townsville.

Housing Minister Leeanne Enoch will be asked to fund a Youth Foyer for Cairns that would cost an estimated $8m initially and $1.5m annually. State MP for Cairns Michael Healy supports the proposal.

Mr Healy said he was a strong advocate of the proposal.

“We need to have that facility and that is something that has come from the community to me – let’s get this happening,” he said.

“I will advocate and we will get that ball rolling – I’ve also brought this to the attention of the Premier.”

Originally published as Youth Foyer proposal for Cairns to address vulnerable youth