Property consultants pledge support for world-first youth crisis housing in Melbourne

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Jul 19, 2018

Property consultants pledge support for world-first youth crisis housing in Melbourne

Construction of a world-first model of intensive support and crisis accommodation for homeless youth in Melbourne has begun, with the support of the Property Industry Foundation.

Image supplied by Arize

Martin Foley, Minister for Housing
Image supplied by Arize

(left to right) Wendy Brakey - GM Property Industry Foundation Victoria, Peter Inge - Chairman Property Industry Foundation, Martin Foley - Minister for Housing, Vicky Sutton - CEO Melbourne City Mission, Lucinda White - Peter and Lyndy White Foundation.

The $8 million construction project has been made possible by an innovative partnership between Melbourne City Mission and the Victorian Government, philanthropists including The Peter and Lyndy White Foundation, and the property industry through the Property Industry Foundation.

The project will transform the old youth crisis hub, Melbourne City Mission's Frontyard Youth Services, at 19 King Street, with new facilities, including two floors of crisis housing for young people sleeping rough in the city, as well as a bigger range of support services.

A number of property consultants have pledged their support for the project, providing pro-bono services.

The Victorian Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing, Martin Foley, was onsite earlier in the week to mark the beginning of construction.

“Victoria is leading Australia - and the world - in investing in the Frontyard model which provides a comprehensive response to youth homelessness," Foley said.

“Our investment in Frontyard will keep young people safe and offer them wrap-around support services when and where they need it.

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The $8 million project will get young homeless people off the streets. Image by George Hodan via Public Domain Pictures.

“At Frontyard, young people who are homeless or in crisis will have access to all the support they need, including accommodation, under one roof," Foley said.

Peter Inge, Chairman Property Industry Foundation of Victoria, said the project perfectly aligns with their mission.

“Our mission at the Property Industry Foundation (PIF) is to work with charities who provide programs that assist at-risk and homeless young people. It is PIF’s plan to nationally create 125 bedrooms over the next 4 years," Inge said.

“We’re proud to partner with Melbourne City Mission on the new Frontyard project that will provide a world-first 24/7 program with short term accommodation for the most severely marginalised and disadvantaged youth.

“Melbourne City Mission have a long and proven track record in delivering programs and positive outcomes and we are thrilled to be part of the team to deliver the facility for the project," Inge said.

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Workers and volunteers from Melbourne City Mission, the Property Industry Foundation and Built. Image supplied by Arize.

A number of property consultants, such as Ashurst, Case Meallin, Urbis, Slattery, Fender Katsalidis, NDY, Wood & Grieve Engineers, Hendry Group, Equitable Access Solutions, Irwinconsult, and Built have already pledged their support with a plan to provide pro-bono services for the construction project.

“Our building partner, Built, will source and provide discounted and donated goods and materials for this project," Inge told WILLIAMS MEDIA.

Wendy Brakey, general manager of the Property Industry Foundation, told WILLIAMS MEDIA everyone was excited to support such a worthy cause.

"All the property consultants we approached were more than willing to supply their services. It's a world-first project, so for us it was great to be able to leverage off our contacts to provide a service like this that will create a long-lasting community," Brakey said.

Brett Mason, Managing Director of Built, says they are proud to be supporting the project.

"As already a strong supporter of the Property Industry Foundation, we are proud to be a part of the Frontyard project which brings together industry, not for profit and government to help young Australians who are experiencing hardship," Mason said.

The Andrews Labour Government has injected $3.5 million into the project, which will allow for the housing service to be combined with onsite mental health, drug, alcohol, and disability support - all under the one roof.

The new housing centre, which is due to open early next year, will provide homeless youth with access to health, family violence, counselling, and legal services, and even music and animal therapy.

As part of the new world-first model, Frontyard will pioneer digital engagement strategies to more effectively connect young people into support. The Frontyard team will also actively hit the streets to find young people sleeping rough, and connect them to services.

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A sketch of the new Frontyard ground level area. Image supplied by Arize.

Vicki Sutton, CEO Melbourne City Mission, says the project will disrupt the vicious cycle of homelessness.

“For 29 years, Melbourne City Mission and Frontyard have been there for young people when they have had nowhere else to turn. The new Frontyard is designed to disrupt the cycle of homelessness for Victoria’s most vulnerable and hard to reach young people,' Sutton said.

“The Frontyard model of connected support and accommodation is a world-first in terms of providing a comprehensive response to what we know young people need.

“Melbourne City Mission values the strong partnership with the Victorian Government, the Property Industry Foundation and the many donors and philanthropists who have joined with us behind this model that will help Victoria reduce youth homelessness," Sutton said.

The new model of support has been designed to respond to the multiple and complex needs of young people with significant trauma, who experience challenges connecting into support services.

Many of the young people who will access the new services will have been through the child protection system and have had engagement with youth justice. They are likely to experience addiction, cognitive impairment and other disabilities in addition to youth homelessness.

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The $8 million project will get young homeless people off the streets. Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

Without effective intervention, they are at risk of remaining in crisis long-term, including adult homelessness.

Existing Frontyard services will remain open throughout the redevelopment, at a temporary site at 244 Flinders Street in Melbourne. The new Frontyard will open up at 19 King Street in early 2019.

Social housing the topic on everyone's lips in Melbourne

Meanwhile, fifteen Victorian councils will now be able to take the next steps towards building innovative social housing projects designed to meet the increasing demand for affordable housing across the state.

Yesterday, Foley announced the recipients of the Social Housing Investment Planning (SHIP) grants, which provide $2.5 million to local governments to plan new social housing in their regions.

The grants, worth up to $200,000 each, will help local councils drive the development of social housing by creating municipal social housing plans and identifying land suitable for future social housing projects.

Councils that applied for the grants were required to demonstrate how their proposal would improve social housing outcomes in their area with additional homes for eligible Victorians.

“We are giving local governments the help they need to build more modern social housing in their council areas," Foley said yesterday.

“The quality of the applications we received was very high and I look forward to seeing the impact these projects will have in housing Victorians in their respective communities," said Foley.