The Foyer Foundation plays a catalytic role in advancing the Youth Foyer movement in Australia. We work to strengthen Foyer quality nationwide and convene FoyerInvest – a national consortium of more than 70 organisations working together to establish 50 Youth Foyers by 2030.
Raising national awareness of youth homelessness and Youth Foyers
Together FoyerInvest is expanding access to Youth Foyers so more young Australians can benefit from safe, supported accommodation integrated with education, training, employment and life-skills support.
Our collective advocacy – alongside sector partners including the Home Time campaign and Homelessness Australia – helped unlock $1 billion in federal investment through the National Housing Infrastructure Facility to support young people experiencing homelessness, and women and children escaping domestic violence.
Backing State and Territory Advocacy
As FoyerInvest continues to grow, working groups have become more active in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia and Victoria.
The working groups drive state-based advocacy, in connection with Federal efforts, ensuring a coordinated approach. We support these groups to convene local stakeholders, define goals for their communities, and work together to advocate for the growth and sustainability of Foyers to meet local needs, delivering positive outcomes for young people.
Who is FoyerInvest?
FoyerInvest is governed by 13 national signatory organisations:
Anglicare WA; Brisbane Youth Services; Brotherhood of St. Laurence; For Purpose Investment Partners; Foyer Foundation; Hand Heart Pocket; Junction Australia; Launch Housing; Mission Australia; St John’s Youth Services; The Y Brisbane; Uniting NSW/ACT; and Wesley Mission Queensland.
More than 70 additional partner organisations are involved through state, territory and community-level working groups across Australia.
Recent News & Submissions
Youth Foyers®: Unlocking the potential of 15,000 young people
Over 40,000 young people experience homelessness each year in Australia. Most aren’t in education or employment and repeatedly access overstretched crisis Specialist Homelessness Services that are frequently unable to provide medium or longer term support.
2026 WA FoyerInvest Pre-Budget Submission
Young people make up 15% of those experiencing homelessness each year in Western Australia. Most aren’t in education or employment and repeatedly access overstretched Specialist Homelessness Services that are frequently unable to provide medium or longer term support. Half are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and up to 60% have been in out…
2026 New South Wales FoyerInvest Pre-Budget Submission
There are only two Foyers in NSW. Ten more are needed over the next decade to meet the needs of young people.
2026 South Australia FoyerInvest Pre-Budget Submission
Young people are the fastest growing group experiencing homelessness in South Australia, with almost 4,000 seeking homelessness services assistance last year. This pre-budget submission to the SA State Government outlines the need for five more Foyers in SA to unlock positive housing, employment and education outcomes for more than 1,150 young people, including up to…
South Australia FoyerInvest Pre-Budget Submission
There are 27 Youth Foyers in Australia (16 existing Accredited Youth Foyers, and 11 under construction). Despite having concerning numbers of youth homelessness in local communities, South Australia (SA) has just one Youth Foyer in Port Adelaide. This pre-budget submission to the SA State Government outlines the need for five more Foyers in SA to…
New South Wales FoyerInvest Pre-Budget Submission
More than 13,000 young people presented alone to specialist homelessness services in New South Wales (NSW) in 2023-24. With no access to “the bank of mum and dad”, these young people are competing in a rental market that is failing adults on double incomes. Housing affordability is at record lows, and about 2 in 3…
WA FoyerInvest Pre-Budget Submission
More than 2,500 young people presented alone to specialist homelessness services in Western Australia (WA) in 2022-23. Housing affordability and availability in WA are at record lows, and many young people requesting housing support are being turned away. There is an urgent need to support the medium and longer term needs of young people at…
Joint response to SA Domestic Violence Royal Commission Sep 2024
Domestic and family violence is a national crisis that affects not only women and children, but also young people. We call on the Government of South Australia to collaborate with us to extend the Youth Foyer model across the state. Young people need more than a roof over their heads to escape violence, avoid homelessness…
FoyerInvest response to NHIF Consultation Sep 2024
The current social housing and Specialist Housing Services (SHS) systems are not able to meet the needs of young people facing the housing crisis in Australia. Over 9,000 young people presenting alone to SHS services in 2023 and needing medium term/transitional support were turned away. The Foyer Foundation welcomes the $1 billion National Housing Infrastructure…
FoyerInvest 2024–25 NSW Pre-Budget Submission
10 new Youth Foyers to break the cycle of youth homelessness Over 13,000 young people presented alone to specialist homelessness services in NSW in 2022/23. Housing affordability is at record lows, and around 2 in 3 young people requesting medium term specialist housing support are being turned away. There is an urgent need to support…
FoyerInvest 2024–25 Budget Submission
A national solution that is evidence-based, scalable and breaks the cycle of youth homelessness. The FoyerInvest Consortium is asking the Federal Government to fund the construction of 10 forty-unit Youth Foyers to enable young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to transition to independent, thriving futures. Our funding request includes: 1. Investment of $184…
FoyerInvest Queensland Budget Submission 2023
An opportunity for the Queensland Government to create pathways to thriving, independent futures for young people at risk of and experiencing homelessness. We are asking the Queensland Government to invest in at least six new Youth Foyers in Queensland to enable young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness to transition to independent, thriving futures.…
FoyerInvest National Housing and Homelessness Plan Submission
Submission in response to the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Issues Paper This submission to the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Issues Paper has been prepared by The Foyer Foundation on behalf of FoyerInvest, a consortium of service providers, philanthropists, impact investors and young people working collaboratively to grow the reach and impact of Youth…
2023-24 Federal Budget submission
FoyerInvest pre-budget submission: An opportunity for the Commonwealth to create pathways to thriving, independent futures for young people at risk of homelessness Over 44,000 young people aged 15-24 present alone to Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) each year. This figure has not changed for over a decade, with too many young people getting trapped in intergenerational…
NSW Pre-Budget Submission 2023
FoyerInvest pre-budget submission: An opportunity for NSW Government to create pathways to thriving, independent futures for young people at risk of and experiencing homelessness. Nearly a quarter (22%) of all people experiencing homelessness in NSW are children and young people. 3 in 5 young people requesting Specialist Homelessness Support (SHS) support are repeat users. Too…