Young people who are chronically homeless are expected to benefit from a new set of services worth more than $4 million.
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Seven organisations were selected by a panel of youth and housing experts as the new model to help young homeless people aged from 15 to 25.
![New range of services to target young homeless New range of services to target young homeless](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/9754fec7-4f61-40d8-90ff-3f2b44b5db8f.jpg/r0_0_407_500_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
The ACT Government and the community sector have been working together since late last year to reform youth housing and homelessness services in the capital and yesterday marked the start of a three-month transition to the new system.
The Housing and Support Service, Crisis Mediation Service, Emergency Accommodation Network, Friendly Landlord Service, Youth Identified Accommodation and Support Program, Mentoring, Life Skills and Social Enterprise Service, and the Parent Accommodation Support Program were chosen because they combined preventive measures, family support, skills development and crisis support.
Acting Community Services Minister Chris Bourke said those battling housing problems could count on more effective support with the new approach, which starts in March.
''Considerable research is being done into the causes of youth homelessness and housing issues faced by young people,'' Dr Bourke said.
''The new services will give young people the best chance of breaking the cycle of homelessness.''
ACT Council of Social Service director Roslyn Dundas said services currently providing support to young people would look significantly different next year and it was likely some would close.
''Fourteen services were happening previously,'' Ms Dundas said.
''This change may result in some economic efficiencies through a reallocation of resources ... we need to make sure this restructure doesn't let young people fall through the gaps.''
A snapshot of ACT's homelessness service First Point revealed almost 35 per cent of its clients were younger than 25 and almost 30 per cent were single parents with children.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's annual report People turned away from government-funded specialist homelessness accommodation 2010-2011 showed the ACT turned away 0.7 per cent of the total daily demand for immediate accommodation, compared with 2.3 per cent nationally.
The rate among clients requiring immediate, new accommodation, was 51.7 per cent.