Premier Mark McGowan and Community Services and Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk today announced the extension of the Home Stretch WA Trial, which provides targeted support to young people leaving out-of-home care.
The trial gives young people the option to remain formally supported up to the age of 21 and includes extensions to placements in foster care, housing guarantees, coaching and mentoring.
The $1.5 million funding grant to Anglicare through Lotterywest will help to expand its resources, workshops, consultancy services, impact measurement and evaluation costs of the trial program to increase support for young people in out-of-home care.
The trial through Department of Communities and Anglicare takes a different approach to state care to better support young people who are at high risk of homelessness, entering the justice system or being unemployed.
Across Australia, people who leave care at 18 years of age are over-represented in homelessness statistics, in the justice system, are more likely to leave school early and are over-represented in unemployment figures.
This approach of providing care options beyond 18 years of age has been proven overseas to positively affect the outcomes for those in care: reducing offending rates by a third, halving homelessness and doubling employment participation.
The Home Stretch trial announced by the State Government in August was designed to support 15 care leavers in the Fremantle area to significantly reduce their risk of becoming homeless after turning 18.
The additional resources from Lotterywest will assist up to 10 extra care leavers in the program’s first year, and up to 25 more in each of the second and third years.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
“We are committed to supporting all Western Australians by providing services and assistance to people experiencing homelessness, or who are at risk of homelessness.
“To ensure lasting change for people experiencing homelessness we need to create and sustain avenues of support for those that need it most.
“The State Government, through Lotterywest, is pleased to support and work with Anglicare WA on early intervention and supporting young people leaving care to reach their potential.
As stated by Community Services and Child Protection Minister Simone McGurk:
“Just like other young people, some young care leavers need additional supports to prepare them to live independently.
“Research suggests young people who have these supports are more likely to move in to work or further education, and are less likely to experience unemployment, homelessness or contact with the justice system.
“I am pleased that Lotterywest is supporting this important project, and strengthening the State Government’s response to preventing homelessness and other complex issues.”
