The Queensland Government has today called on expressions of interest from for-profit and non-government organisations to establish new foyers on the Gold Coast and in Townsville, and announced expansion plans for the highly successful Logan Youth Foyer.
Minister for Housing and Public Works Mick de Brenni said secure, stable affordable housing provides the foundation for young people to complete their education and find employment.
“Too often a lack of secure housing leaves vulnerable young people with no chance for advancement,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Supporting young people to break the homelessness cycle was one of the objectives of the Palaszczuk Government’s new 10 year Queensland Housing Strategy, which we will release later this year.
“The youth foyer model is one we know works. It gives young people the space and security to invest in themselves.”
Minister for Communities, Women and Youth Shannon Fentiman said youth foyers provide safe and affordable housing to young people at risk of homelessness while also supporting them to engage with education and training.
“Youth foyers go beyond short-term accommodation, they can make a real difference to the lives of young people,” Ms Fentiman said.
“We also want to hear new and innovative ideas from community organisations who already support vulnerable young people so they can achieve their full potential.
“I encourage both for-profit and non-government organisations to get involved.”
Mr de Brenni said the Department of Housing and Public Works will engage a leading, private sector architect to design the new facility and construction manage the expansion of the Logan Youth Foyer.
Expressions of interest for the projects in Townsville and on the Gold Coast opened today in QTenders, and would close on Friday 9 June 2017.
Invitations to offer for the expanded Logan Youth Foyer also opened today and close on Thursday 1 June 2017.
Foyers are a contemporary approach to housing vulnerable young people, with the first established in the UK in 1992. Their success has led to the adoption of foyers in Australia, Ireland, the US, Romania, Netherlands and Germany.
The first Australian youth foyer opened in Sydney in 2001 and the first foyer like service in Queensland opened in Logan in 2009 as part of the Rudd Government’s implementation of the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness. The Palaszczuk Government is working to expand the youth foyer model across Queensland to support our vulnerable young people.
For more information on the EOIs, visit www.hpw.qld.gov.au/qtenders.
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Resource: To see how youth foyers are changing young people's lives in Queensland, watch the video: http://bit.ly/LoganYouthFoyer (external site)