Whilst 2020 will be in the history books as the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important to acknowledge the many achievements throughout this year and to celebrate these before we bid farewell to 2020 and welcome 2021.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Board Directors for their valued contribution. I am also deeply grateful to our leadership teams and program teams for their expertise, agility and resilience as Hope Street swiftly responded to key challenges during the year. In particular, I commend our teams for their success with continuity of services to young people and young families, while keeping our clients and each other safe resulting in zero COVID-19 positive cases.

Our other significant achievement was the opening and operation of our First Response Youth Service in Melton. We were thrilled to open the doors of this leading-designed specialist centre to young people and young families in August. We are deeply grateful to the tremendous dedication and work of our partners and supporters who shared our vision for this much-needed centre and who assisted us to make it possible. We look forward to sharing some wonderful impact stories with you in 2021.

Our impact on young people and young families throughout 2020 across the Northern and Western metropolitan regions has been made possible with your generosity. I thank you for your ongoing commitment to Hope Street and compassion and understanding of the hundreds of young people who reach out to our services.

In particular, I would like to acknowledge the young people who have accessed our programs and services in response to their situation, utilising their many strengths to achieve their goals. Their determination to create a future of hope for themselves and their children is inspirational. I thank them for allowing Hope Street to be a part of their journey.

Next year as a priority, Hope Street will progress our work with the local community to establish a Hope Street First Response Youth Service in the City of Whittlesea - see First Response Youth Service in Whittlesea moves closer to home for further details, including a fly-through video of this much-needed facility that will provide crisis accommodation and support to 100 young people including young families per year.  The model also incorporates a mobile outreach service to 120 young people including young families per year.

On behalf of the members of the Board and the teams of Hope Street I sincerely thank you for your support of young people and young families experiencing homelessness. I wish you and your loved ones an enjoyable and festive season. I look forward to continuing to achieve our vision of a society in which all young people and young families have a safe place to call home, with you in 2021.

Donna Bennett
Chief Executive Officer