Today, Queensland celebrates a significant step forward in its commitment to tackling youth homelessness with the official opening of the Townsville Youth Foyer.
The Foyer is located in the Pimlico suburb and is an integrated learning, employment and accommodation approach that supports young people aged 16-25 who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It will house up to 350 young people over the next 10 years. It is the third Youth Foyer to be built in Queensland. The Townsville Youth Foyer was funded by the Queensland Government and will be operated by Mission Australia.
“Homelessness is always a last resort for a young person — never a choice — and the opening of the Townsville Youth Foyer is a beacon of hope and opportunity for young people in this region,” Foyer Foundation CEO Liz Cameron-Smith said.
“Housing is a fundamental human right but we know young people in Queensland are falling through the cracks. An estimated 4,800 children and young people aged 12 to 24 are sleeping rough, couch surfing, or living in improvised or severely crowded housing in Queensland. At the last census, more than 1200 people in Townsville were homeless, about 20 per cent of which were young people.”
In February the Queensland Government announced it would fund a further eight Youth Foyers across the state, with Cairns, Moreton Bay and Hervey Bay first off the rank. This commitment is a testament to the strength of the FoyerInvest network across Queensland — a group of nine community organisations that have banded together since early 2023 to advocate for more Youth Foyers across the state.
Youth Foyers play a pivotal role in transforming the lives of young individuals who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. They provide more than just shelter — Foyers offer a nurturing environment where young people can flourish, learn and grow to their full potential. Through one-on-one coaching tailored to each young person’s goals in learning and life, Youth Foyers offer integrated support in education, work, housing, connection, health and financial capacity. This holistic approach provides a platform for young people to break free from cycles of disadvantage, achieve independence and maintain it into adulthood.
For 16-24 year olds who are unable to rely on family support during such a critical developmental stage in their lives, Foyers provide a trusted community of peers and adults, with the care, personalised attention, coaching and access to opportunities they need to set themselves up for thriving, independent futures.
Carefully designed to create a sense of home, not an institution, the Youth Foyers are a welcoming environment with plenty of natural light, communal kitchens and living spaces, and recreational zones for young people to relax in and connect. They also prioritise safety and privacy, ensuring all young people have the individual space they need to focus on their futures.
The Townsville Youth Foyer is an excellent example of this, strengthened by the involvement of local young people and the community in the design of this purpose-built service. It is adjacent to NRL Cowboys House, a culturally safe boarding facility for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women, creating pathways for First Nations school students to transition to the next stage of their education and career journey.
“Mission Australia’s Townsville Youth Foyer will provide vital support and play a big part in addressing youth homelessness in Townsville,” Mission Australia CEO Sharon Callister said.
“This is a safe, secure and affordable place to live and study, where young people are also supported as part of the program to develop their skills, independence and resources needed to achieve their personal goals and step into a brighter future.
“We are grateful for the community and government support and to those who have championed this facility.”
Within two years of living in a Youth Foyer, a young person develops the skills and capabilities they need to achieve long-term stability and independence. More than 80 per cent of Youth Foyer residents exit into safe and stable housing, 65 per cent gain secure and decent employment and they are 60 per cent less likely to be involved in the justice system. “We’re deeply grateful to the Queensland Government and Mission Australia for their tireless efforts over many years to make the dream of this Youth Foyer a reality for young people living in Townsville and its surrounding regions,” Cameron-Smith said.
“Without their commitment to young people in Townsville, and their belief in the Youth Foyer approach as an evidence-based solution to youth homelessness, none of this would have been possible. We thank Mission Australia for its tireless efforts and for being a steadfast partner in our goal of unlocking thriving futures for more young people experiencing homelessness across Australia.
“We thank the Queensland Government for committing to an additional eight for young Queenslanders grappling with the cost of living and housing crisis. We look forward to working alongside the government to ensure every Youth Foyer in Queensland is designed, built and operated to the high standards young people need to achieve positive outcomes in housing, education and employment — because they deserve nothing less.”
Since 2008 the Foyer Foundation has been supporting the growth and development of Youth Foyers across the country. We have supported many thousands of young people in that time.
A crucial part of our work at the Foyer Foundation is embedding standards and quality assurance across the Foyer network to ensure that every dollar invested delivers the outcomes that matter.
There are currently 16 accredited Youth Foyers up and running, with an additional 11 undergoing accreditation or under construction. A further 16 are shovel-ready immediately
or within the next two years.
“We are working tirelessly with our supporters to meet a national goal of 50 Foyers by 2030, to transform the lives of 20,000 more young people over the course of a decade,” Cameron-Smith said.
Download the Media release – Townsville Youth Foyer opening 10.07.24