Vic Park Youth accomm service guaranteed

14/11/96

The Victoria Park Youth Accommodation service has been guaranteed funding until mid-1998, Family and Children's Services Minister Cheryl Edwardes and Federal Family Services Minister Judi Moylan announced today.

This means the centre can continue to provide medium-term accommodation and support for up to 22 homeless young people, aged between 15 and 25 years old, at a time.

Family and Children's Services has granted the centre $99,147 a year until June 30, 1998 under the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP).

SAAP is a joint State and Commonwealth Government program which provides more than 100 accommodation and support services for homeless people throughout Western Australia.

"It is vital that young people without homes have access to safe accommodation and services which support them in a crisis," Mrs Edwardes said.

"It is also very important to help them after the crisis to re-establish family links where possible and to rebuild their lives.

"Young people using this service will receive help to look for employment, education or training, and to access the income available to them in order to provide for a more stable future."

Mrs Moylan said the service provided a valuable service for young people in the Victoria Park area.

"This program provides a safe, secure setting where young people without homes can assess their situation, make informed choices and decisions about the future, and learn and demonstrate responsibility," she said.

"They can get help to find suitable long-term accommodation and develop skills to reduce the chance of future crises.

"The continued funding demonstrates the Commonwealth and State Governments' commitment to strengthening families and providing support to people of all ages who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless."

Media contacts: Diana Russell Coote (Minister Edwardes' Office) (09) 421 7777