Plans for 40-bed purpose-built Cairns Youth Foyer revealed

Cairns at-risk young people could soon benefit from a stable roof over their heads while being supported into uni or work following the revealing of plans for the city’s first Youth Foyer.

Following years of lobbying, Cairns at-risk young people could soon benefit from a stable roof over their heads while being supported into uni or work after plans were revealed for the city’s first Youth Foyer.

The state government will roll-out eight new youth housing options using the Youth Foyer model across the state to help young Queenslanders at-risk of homelessness.

The first three will be built in Cairns, Hervey Bay and Moreton Bay.

The 40-bed new purpose-built Cairns facility, close to public transport and shops, will provide accommodation for vulnerable young people aged 16 to 25 and be staffed 24/seven to ensure residents have support when they need it.

An artist's design of the proposed Cairns Youth Foyer.

Inspecting progress on the Townsville Youth Foyer on Thursday, Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the Cairns facility would be the next to be built.

“It’s hard to do well at school or uni, hold down a job and plot out your future when you don’t have a safe place to stay,” she said.

“Youth Foyers aren’t just a bed to sleep in, it’s a place that provides wraparound support to study, get a good job, their own place and eventually home ownership.”

A site in Manoora has been set aside for the proposed youth facility.

Cairns MP Michael Healy said the model had proved successful in other areas of the state including Logan and the Gold Coast.

Artist's rendition of the 40-unit Gulliver Youth Foyer, designed by Townsville firm Counterpoint Architecture.

“Which is why I made it clear I wanted to see one built in our city,” he said.

Getting youth off the street, into stable accommodation and steering the disadvantaged away from crime through a FoyerInvest’s national vision of 50 Foyers by 2030 represented a significant investment in the state’s young people.

Foyer Foundation chief executive Liz Cameron-Smith said the Youth Foyer not only benefited each young person, it also has positive impacts for their families, communities and the economy.

The proposed Cairns Youth Foyer will be have the same 40 bed capacity as the Gold Coast facility.

“Young people in this situation need more than a roof over their heads to overcome cycles of disadvantage, gain independence, and realise their full potential in life,” she said.

Premier Steven Miles said population growth and increasing construction costs had made rest less affordable, meaning more people had been pushed out of affordable ­housing.

“For young people who fall through the cracks, we need services like this to give them the support they need to not only sleep safe at night, but also pursue a good job, education and eventually their own home,” Mr Miles said.

“Every Queenslander deserves a safe and secure place to call home. That means we need to build more homes – it’s that simple.”

A comparable Youth Foyer of a similar size being built in Townsville cost about $20m and an operator of the Cairns facility has not yet been decided.

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Originally published as Plans for 40-bed purpose-built Cairns Youth Foyer revealed