Melbourne Citymission's Foyer Plus Programs provide the best response to youth homelessness through three housing models: precinct, high density, and neighborhood. The programs offer young people ages 16-25 at risk of homelessness fully furnished housing and intensive casework support for 2-3 years to help transition to independence. Research found about half of participants were protected against homelessness after completing the program. The combination of housing and support helps young people pursue education, employment, and training goals.

1. Melbourne Citymission’s Foyer Plus Programs – The Best Response
to Youth Homelessness

2.  Precinct model
6 apartments, located in Fitzroy North)
 High Density model
 Lion Garden (8 apartments, located in CBD)
 Ladder (12 apartments, located in Collingwood)
 Neighbourhood model
6 dispersed transitional properties located in Inner
North and Inner South

4.  Step Ahead program was the first Foyer like
model of its kind in Victoria
 Step Ahead began in 2004 under the name Youth
Transition Model- included Lion Garden and
Neighbourhood model in 2007 the program
received recurrent funding from the Department
of Human Services and was renamed the Step
Ahead program
 Ladder began in 2007- partnership with AFL
Players Association
 Youth Precinct opened in 2010/2011

5.  Aged 16-25
 Male and Female
 At risk of homelessness or dislocated from
mainstream supports
 Engaged in some kind of
Education, Employment or Training; or
motivated to reengage with these

6.  Fully furnished, self
contained supported
housing for 2-3 years
 Intensive holistic
casework support
 Early intervention
 Links to Education,
Employment and/or
Training

7.  Living Skills Program
 Community connections
 Mentoring program (Ladder)
 After hours On Call service
 Up to 6 months After care
Young people, Minister for Indigenous Employment and
Economic Development, and Minister for Sport and Minister for
Social Housing and Homelessness Mark Arbib and mentors

8.  Support a transition from dependence to
independence
 Offer long term stability and security- provides
platform to explore EET options
 Provide opportunity for participation in project
development
 Providing empowerment and encouraging
responsibility
 Improve employability
 Improve quality of life and connections to
natural networks

9.  Vacancy will be listed on the Opening Doors resource
register as ‘transitional support’
 Referrals accepted through any ‘open door’ in Victoria
(except for Precinct- only North West region). Access
points fax through IAP form to the Foyer Plus team
 The Foyer Plus team reviews suitability of referrals.
 The Foyer Plus team interviews suitable applicants
 Applicants who are selected are notified by phone and
sign up time is arranged. We will also notify the
relevant ‘open door’ and support worker if appropriate

10. Into Through Out of
Homelessness Homelessness Homelessness
Return home
Family
education reconciliation
Change
in family
structure
Drug &
alcohol
Mental health
Child protection
Justice

11.  Shift from individualised outcome to ‘whole of person’ packaged
support
 Shift from fragmented & silo approached service delivery to a
connected framework that mirrored lives of the people we work
with
 Several funding streams
 ‘Partner with’ rather than a mutual agreement
 Outcomes focus rather than throughput
 Strategic planning to commit to ‘providing the best response to
homelessness’
 Service Integration & cross sector relationships key
 Facilities and Location/s
 How do we think differently about the business of the business

12.  Youth rights based approach - can narrow options
 Focused on facilitating access to accommodation –
rarely involve consideration of other elements eg
health, D & A, EET
 Parameters, boundaries and funding requirements
 Shift in policy and practice – let’s move to true
mainstream
 If we are unable to deliver then who can
 The lived experience of homelessness for young
people– needs to be validated, acknowledged and
legitimised, time & space

13. The Package:
▪ Long term stable accommodation
▪ Intensive case management support
▪ EET packaged support
▪ Living skills/Mentoring
The Model:
Precinct model – multiple service providers and partners, funding streams, visiting services – on one
site
Density model – close proximity to services, less services onsite but stand alone
Neighbourhood model – immersed in community, reflects natural networks to
community, friends, family, local support, capacity to seek out support when required

14. Recent research led by Associate Professor Dr Marty Grace at Victoria
University on the Step Ahead Model found:
About half the participants were
well protected against homelessness.
Ten participants were
protected against homelessness.
Four participants were
vulnerable to homelessness.

15.  The combination of accommodation and
support made it possible for young people to
pursue their EET goals
 Program expectations helped improve
motivation
 80% had completed Year 12, 37% completed
post school qualifications

16.  Transportability of model
 Design
 Who is the client/cohort?
 Linked evidence to outcomes
 Cost effective analysis

30. Mandy Baxter: mbaxter@mcm.org.au
03 9680 8257
Lisa O’Brien lobrien@mcm.org.au
03 9680 8217
Step Ahead Research Link
http://www.melbournecitymission.org.au/Latest-News
/Research-launched-to-help-prevent-youth-homelessness