June 2002

Help for homeless young people

A funding grant of $112,340 to the WAYSS agency will provide crisis response and support services to homeless young people in the Cities of Casey and Cardinia.

‘The Government is providing two workers to support local young people and help them get better access to health, welfare and education services,’ said Housing Minister Bronwyn Pike during a visit to WAYSS in Dandenong.

‘This funding is part of an additional $1.5 million the Government is providing in 2001–02 to improve care and support for homeless people across Victoria.

‘We are investing in homeless services for young people to help them get their lives back on track and give them a chance of a positive future.’

Ms Pike said the Government was committed to tackling homelessness through the Victorian Homelessness Strategy.

‘We have provided $3 million to support this whole-of-Government strategy to reduce the incidence and duration of homelessness with a range of intervention and early prevention initiatives.

‘The Government is also providing an extra $8.8 million over four years to boost services for the homeless in the 2002–03 State Budget,’ Ms Pike said.

‘Since 1999, we have allocated an additional $40.8 million to improve and expand services for people and families experiencing homelessness.’

Ms Pike said the Office of Housing would also provide transitional housing in the Dandenong and Pakenham area to be used for people participating in the three-year Drug Courts pilot at Dandenong Magistrate’s Court.

The program sentences minor drug offenders to a Drug Treatment Order, where they must complete an intensive rehabilitation program instead of a prison sentence.

As part of the program, a custodial sentence is also imposed and ‘suspended’ until the offender successfully completes the rehabilitation program.

If they fail, offenders must serve the prison time.