This concept is based on similar successful programs in New York, Canada and London. The program takes a holistic approach by integrating a secure place to live, ongoing personal support and access to learning, training and employment opportunities. This program along with a facility, incorporating much needed longer term accommodation, will cost approximately $17 million to build and run over the next 10 years.

More than one third of Brisbane's homeless population are under the age of 25.

Providing the basic needs such as food, shelter and safety are essential for initial and immediate satisfaction, but a more sophisticated approach is needed for a long-term solution.
 
'If you fill a young person's empty stomach, within a few hours they will be hungry again', says Group Manager for Community Services, Matthew Cox.

'The key is to provide the right package of support because putting a roof over someone's head just isn't enough', says Mr Cox. 

Young people who participate in the program will be provided with an individually tailored support plan to address a variety of issues and encourage them to make positive life changes.

'The average length of programs integrating support and accommodation for young homeless people is currently around 13 weeks and if you've got significant things going on in your life, 13 weeks isn't long enough,' Mr Cox said.

The centre will provide up to three years of supported accommodation for each individual.


Street Directions – A Project of the Brisbane Centre for Young People

In the lead-up to the opening of the Brisbane Centre for Young People, Red Cross and The Investor’s Club have teamed up and started working closely with many of the young people who will eventually be housed in the new accommodation centre being opened in 2010.

Called 'Street Directions' this new Red Cross program works intensively with homeless and vulnerable young people in Brisbane aged between 16 – 25 years to help build their knowledge, skills and resilience to exit homelessness.

With the financial backing of the Investor’s Club and a close collaboration with the Red Cross Night Café and Beyond Crisis Training and Employment Program, the Street Directions team provide intensive, one-on-one casework and a range of life skills courses to marginalised and disadvantaged young people in Brisbane.

Youth Workers are primarily available to provide intensive counselling and emotional support, alongside more practical assistance like finding housing, filling in forms and getting identification. This support is offered on a long-term basis up to 3 years.

According to Program Manager Jeff Buckley, 'finding accommodation is one thing, being able to maintain it is another, so the Street Directions team also run regular Life Skills courses on topics such as budgeting, cooking, nutrition and domestic care.'

'We also have funds available for young people to purchase household starter packs; from cutlery and tea-towels, to bed linen and furniture, these basic items can be the simple things that help turn a new house into a new home.'

Another exciting feature of the program is the Youth Consultants Scheme, where a small team of young people who have experienced homelessness in the past are employed by Red Cross to assist in the design and delivery of Life Skills workshops.

'This scheme puts our money where our mouth is', says Jeff Buckley. 'Providing young people with a supported work experience, opportunities to develop office skills and an income not only builds their confidence levels, but provides them with that all important first break into employment.'

Through this three year partnership with the Investors Club, the Street Directions Team expect to work intensively with over 50 young people and provide medium-term and one-off support to a further 300 more. Already the program has been in contact with 164 different young people in its first year.

Red Cross acknowledges its major supporters:

• Lord Mayor's Community Trust
• The Investors Club
• Bank of Queensland

For the project to be a success and to break the cycle of homelessness Red Cross acknowledges a whole of community response is required.