Youth Homelessness Action Plan Stage 1

The Victorian Homelessness Strategy clearly identified that, while the profile of the homeless population has changed over time, our service system had not kept pace with this change.

The Youth Homelessness Action Plan Stage 1 (YHAP1) delivered several programs aimed at developing and strengthening intervention and preventative approaches.

These programs recognised the importance of connection to family and community as well as the role of life skills, education, employment and training in creating pathways out of homelessness for marginalised and vulnerable groups of young people.

 YHAP1 Summary Report -  Evaluation of the YHAP1 (Word Size 365KB, Pages 48)

 Youth Homelessness Action Plan - First stage report (PDF Size 218KB, Pages 46)

Programs and initiatives

The following programs and initiatives were developed out of the YHAP1:

Young and Pregnant Parenting

The Young and Pregnant Parenting program (YAPP) is a support program for young people (15 - 25) who are pregnant and/or parenting and are homeless or at risk of being homeless.

YAPP provides outreach case management support for young, isolated parents and secondary consultation for other agencies.

Same Sex Attracted Young People

The Same Sex Attracted Young People (SSAYP) project was based on evidence that suggests young people in same sex relationships were particularly vulnerable to homelessness (e.g. having left home because of a breakdown in family relationships). Anecdotal evidence indicates they may also experience discrimination in obtaining appropriate services.

This project developed strategies to enhance responsiveness and understanding and includes pathways through the system.

 Same Sex Attracted Young People Service System Intervention Project (PDF Size 524KB, Pages 55)

Young People who Self Injure

The Young People who Self Injure (YPSI) project was based on recognition that some homelessness support service agencies are reluctant to provide services to young people who self harm. This may be due to the services' perceived inability to adequately support young people who are self harming, and a concern that self harming behaviours might negatively impact on other young people and staff within the service.

This project aimed to enhance understanding of the causes of self harming, and assist agencies to develop appropriate management strategies to limit self harming, critical incident responses, and collaborative links with mental health and other services.

 Young People Who Self Injure (St Vincent de Paul) (PDF Size 1MB, Pages 60)