The Victorian Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Framework released at Parliament House in Melbourne this morning calls for the rebuilding of the Aboriginal homeless service system in the state “from the ground up”.
The 100 page document authored by researchers at Aboriginal Housing Victoria (AHV) titled “Mana-na woorn-tyeen marr- takoort” (Every Aboriginal Person Has a Home) was presented by Dr. Kerry Arabena, Chair of the AHV Steering Committee to The Hon Richard Wynne MP and The Hon Gavin Jennings MLC (pictured above).
The Framework provides a 20-year agenda to address the crisis in Aboriginal homelessness in Victoria which has the highest and fastest growing rate of Aboriginal people seeking homeless support in the country.
The wide-ranging document addresses both historic and contemporary issues that have informed its recommendations. Among them is that tailored support is provided for those at high risk and there needs to be an increase in the supply of crisis and transitional housing.
The Framework, driven and developed by the Victorian Aboriginal community, calls for the measures to reduce the housing crisis for Aboriginal young people leaving care.
These include:
• Create Youth Foyers for young people seeking accommodation to support continuing education and training and provide priority access to this cohort
• Extend care for young people until they reach 21
• Establish managed units with lead tenants to teach life skills
• Establish Government funding of higher or further education for young people leaving care
The Framework also called for the establishment of an Education First Youth Foyer, including for children leaving care
You can read the complete framework or summary overview online at www.vahhf.org.au.
The support of Youth Foyers is expressed on pages 77 and 91
Image: courtesy of Aboriginal Housing Victoria
