The City of Whittlesea is forecast to grow by 10,9981 by 2041.  

Update on the Whittlesea Build Site

Exciting news from the build site!  Over 100 young people aged 16-25 years will receive short term accommodation and support in the City of Whittlesea. This capital build is led by Hope Street Youth and Family Services in partnership with the Victorian Government and the City of Whittlesea. Young people and young families who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless will receive safe and supported housing and wrap-around services tailored to their individual needs and circumstances.  
 

The Hope Street First Response Youth Refuge in the City of Whittlesea continues to develop since the sod turning ceremony in April 2023, which included then Housing Minister Colin Brooks and Lily D’Ambrosio local Member for Mill Park.  In June 2023 Aunty Joy Murphy-Wandin shared a Smoking Ceremony with Hope Street young people, staff, community and local government. These momentous events have been significant for Hope Street as a leading youth specialist homelessness service provider. Now the cement slabs are down, and the foundation is ready for framing, the projected finish date for the sites final stage will be September 2024.   

Recruitment will start with a team leader and a rostered team of six residential support workers, this site will offer 24 hours, 7 days a week daily support. It will also include two dedicated case managers. “This is a fantastic employment opportunity for the community sector workforce to thrive in a brand new, state of the art facility.” Sue Scott, Operations Manager. “For the team leader this gives potential to shape their own team and service delivery in the north-east growth corridor of metro Melbourne.”  

With 37.4% of the total homeless population being young people and children across Australia, this nation leading site is architecturally designed for wrap-around service support to give a foundation to those most vulnerable to homelessness in the community, 16-25-year-old young people and their children.   

The centre design will feature three buildings and landscaping that allows for herb and vegetable growth and therapeutic spaces. One of the buildings has eight bedrooms with ensuites, along with high quality communal areas for young people to move from surviving the thriving. There will be two self-contained family units that can accommodate families of various combinations and an administration/ office space for staff to work with young residents.  

Young people are supported to set individual goals in the below key areas:  

• Developing living skills. 
• Tenancy skills and budgeting.   
• Health and wellbeing. 
• Education/ training and employment.  
• Community and cultural connection. 
   
  Sue Scott the Hope Street Operations Manager emphasises, “Each of these individual goals are centred on a young person’s specific needs and hope for their future, from cooking skills to finding a bulk billing GP, to completing education and finding the right job, the site will provide vital wrap-around support for young people.” 

The City of Whittlesea area has a growing population, with more young people and children in the area needing safe affordable housing and support in the community. Young families are most in need which is why Hope Street is providing emergency housing in the City of Whittlesea focusing on early intervention support and connection. Young people are bearing the brunt of the housing crisis, with the need for wrap-around service delivery being a vital part of intervention and prevention long-term. 

“It is important in the City of Whittlesea to have a First Response Youth Refuge, this type of youth homelessness refuge.  Hope Street is looking forward to this site being finished and providing nation leading youth homelessness specialist services.” Sue Scott, Hope Street Operations Manager.    

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