New facility in Hervey Bay to open for vulnerable youth

A new youth facility which set to arrive in Hervey Bay will address the urgent needs of young people on the Fraser Coast at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness the Queensland Government has announced today.

(From left) Mission Australia's program manager Krissy Regan, Scott Stewart, Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon, Aaron Harper, Mission Australia regional manager Phil Flint and Foyer Foundation CEO Liz Cameron-Smith at a new youth foyer. A similar centre will open in Hervey Bay.

A new Hervey Bay youth crisis housing centre will provide more education and housing opportunities for vulnerable teenagers.

The centre “will offer education, training, employment, and life skills support” to allow at risk youth a pathway out of homelessness.

The Foyer Foundation said in a statement the homes were “expected to provide a safe and stable home for approximately 40 16 to 24-year-olds at risk of or experiencing homelessness” with each resident allowed to stay for up to two years.

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CEO Liz Cameron Smith said “young people need more than a roof over their heads to move beyond crisis towards independent, thriving futures”.

Mrs Cameron-Smith said the organisation provided a safe and stable home for up to two years, to help build fundamental life skills many of us take for granted.

Foyer Foundation CEO Liz Cameron-Smith, Aaron Harper, Scott Stewart, Mission Australia's regional Manager Phil Flint and Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon tour Townsville's new youth foyer, which will house 40 young people. A similar centre has been announced for Hervey Bay.

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The Queensland Youth Housing Coalition estimates there are 4827 children and young people aged 12 to 24 are sleeping rough, couch surfing, or living in improvised or severely crowded dwellings in Queensland.

In the Fraser Coast region, “20 per cent of homeless every day are young people” according to the Hervey Bay Neighbourhood Centre’s 2023 State of the Youth report.

The report also states “12.5 per cent of young people reported experiencing homelessness, couch or without a safe place to stay at some point in their lives”.

The centre said homelessness in Hervey Bay was caused by the lack of affordable housing stock which was causing blockages in crisis housing accommodation, and young people often had no rental history meaning they are unable to compete with older adults who have a rental history.

The Department of Housing is expected to work with stakeholders and the community to identify sites for the Hervey Bay centre.

Consideration will be given to proximity to higher education and vocational education facilities and accessibility to public transport and shopping.

It said it could not provide an estimate of the cost of the centre “at this time”.