The Foyer Foundation has big plans to support young people at risk of homelessness in the Caboolture region. The organisation is spearheading efforts to establish a new Youth Foyer in the area, providing integrated housing and education opportunities for vulnerable youth.
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Youth Foyers are more than just accommodation facilities – they adopt an “Advantaged Thinking” approach that taps into young people’s goals and talents whilst building essential life skills.
The proposed Caboolture Foyer, intended for youth aged 16-24, would be strategically located alongside the local TAFE, giving residents access to vocational training, childcare services, transportation, and additional student support resources.
This innovative model has already proven successful at the Foyer Logan, run by Wesley Mission Queensland, who are leading the charge for the Caboolture project.
The Foyer Foundation highlights the urgency, with at least six potential sites in Queensland alone – including Caboolture, Mango Hill, Cairns, Hervey Bay, Toowoomba and Brisbane – ready for development within the next three years.
Foyer Foundation CEO Liz Cameron Smith emphasises the wide-ranging benefits of expanding the Youth Foyers network.
“Building more Youth Foyers will directly address some of Australia’s biggest problems across three fronts — the housing crisis, cost-of-living crisis and domestic violence crisis,” she stated.
With over 33 communities vying for investment to meet young people’s critical housing and education needs, Smith stresses the immense potential of nurturing this future workforce amid growing national skills shortages.
A consortium called FoyerInvest, comprising 13 community organisations, is advocating for $184 million in funding to construct 10 new 40-unit Youth Foyers over the next three years, with an ambitious target of 50 centres nationwide by 2030. These facilities could provide housing and support pathways for over 40,000 homeless or at-risk youth across Australia.
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Established in 2008, the Foyer Foundation aims to facilitate the growth of Australia’s Foyer Movement, modelled after the successful UK initiative. As the demand for youth-centric services continues rising, the proposed Caboolture Foyer represents a beacon of hope – offering young people a solid foundation to build brighter, more secure futures.
Featured image credit: Foyer Foundation/Facebook
Published 24-May-2024
