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Housing and homelessness services

If you or your family is experiencing housing stress, we can assist you in maintaining your current housing, or assistance to seek other suitable housing through a range of support options. Our programs are designed to help people to sustain long-term independent living.
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STARH program

The Supporting Those at Risk of Homelessness (STARH) team will work with you to find and sustain stable housing, build community connections and develop life skills. 

STARH is a free voluntary, safe and confidential service that can provide case management planning and support to assist families and individuals in the Gold Coast, Logan, Lockyer Valley, Somerset and Ipswich regions. 
  • Tenancy issues
  • Financial problems or debts
  • Physical or emotional health issues
  • Loss or reduction in employment
  • Relationship and/or family breakdown
  • Social isolation.
  • Stabilise and sustain housing
  • Provide tenancy advice and support
  • Develop life skills and household management skills
  • Connect with your family and community.
  • Health and legal services
  • Employment and training
  • Family services
  • Other specialist services including housing services.

Specialist Youth Housing Service

The Specialist Youth Housing Service (SYHS) can provide support for young people and families aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

SYHS's mobile support program in the Logan and Brisbane southwest regions aims to support young people to gain or sustain a safe tenancy by guiding clients through the entire process, from attending inspections to moving in and understanding tenancy responsibilities.

SYHS also includes access to immediate and transitional supported accommodation properties in the Logan and Forest Lake areas.

Supported accommodation services include:

  • independent housing
  • holistic case worker support
  • assistance with developing rental knowledge and skills
  • assistance with developing independent living skills
  • referrals to other services and support.
The properties have the option to be fully furnished and rent is calculated based on individual circumstances.
  • help seeking access to the private rental market
  • support to access shared and supported accommodation within the community
  • advocating with real estate agents
  • budgeting and life skill development
  • building skills and knowledge on obtaining and sustaining a tenancy
  • information, advice and advocacy
  • referrals to other services and support

Lockyer Valley Housing Services

Lockyer Valley Housing Services (LVHS) can provide support for people in the Lockyer Valley area who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.

LVHS’s centre-based access program provides support, access and referrals to services that can assist people to gain or sustain stable accommodation. 

The centre-based support program provides ongoing case management support with the aim to find, secure and sustain stable accommodation.

  • Help seeking access to the private rental market
  • Advocating with real estate agents
  • Budgeting and life skill development
  • Referrals to other support services
  • Providing support to access accommodation within the community.
LCCA also has an immediate supported accommodation program which provides temporary housing for families in the Lockyer Valley area who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  • Access to five (5) properties
  • Low-level support
  • Case management and referrals
  • Accommodation period dependent on need
  • Assistance with building a rental history
  • Rent is based on a percentage of the tenant's income.
LCCA is funded by the Queensland Government's Department of Housing and Public Works.
Location
45 Patrick Street Laidley QLD 4341
Opening hours 8am - 5pm Monday to Friday

Logan Youth Foyer Service

The Logan Youth Foyer Support Service (LYFSS) helps young people build a brighter future by providing accommodation and guidance in a supported environment.

  1. Education and employment
  2.  Facade of Logan Youth Foyer Service, housing support for young peopleHealth and wellbeing
  3. Social connections
  4. Civic participation
  5. Independent living skills 
  6. Housing.

 

Our holistic approach is based on a Sustainable Livelihoods Approach and Advantaged Thinking Framework. We work alongside young people to focus on their skills, assets and resources, whilst strengthening their talents. 

For young people who are Foyer ready, we offer 40 transitional semi-furnished studio or one bedroom units, with 24/7 on site staff. We work collaboratively and flexibly with young people and other services to increase sustainable community connections and supports.

To be a participant in the program you must:

  • Be aged 16-25 yrs old, single and with no dependents 
  • Be willing to engage with workers regularly across the 6 service offers and who are willing to meet the ‘LYFSS Deal’
  • Be eligible for social housing 
  • Have an independent income
  • Have two weeks rent and bond (assistance is available)
  • Have the ability to pay rent at 28% of income plus rent assistance  
  • Be engaged in or demonstrate ability to be engaged in education or employment options
  • Have independent living skills and can live safety alone
  • Have low to medium support needs.
  • Contact us via phone 1800 448 448 or fill out the form at the bottom of this page.
  • Initial intake screening will be completed and you may be invited to a group information session to learn more about LYFSS (if there are vacancies)
  • A full holistic assessment including references are then completed, and all applications are discussed by our panel
  • We can also assist with other information and referrals as required. 

- [Wayne] I've really had a rough childhood.

- I had been to 14 different schools.
It was really hard, like it's not easy
being homeless at 15.

- I was studying at the time,
and it was hard not having a place to stay.
I honestly didn't care where I stayed
as long as I got a roof on top of my head.

- I came to Australia age 15 as asylum seeker.
I don't have any family members in Australia,
so I was referred to Youth Foyer.

- Youth Foyer's a form of housing for young people.
They're usually for young people
who've had an experience of homelessness.
I think lots of young people, when they're homeless,
one of the greatest fears is
where am I gonna go to tomorrow.

- Youth Foyers fill a gap.
They fill a gap of vulnerability in the community.
They prevent young people from becoming homeless adults.
They help educate, upskill, and prepare young people
for real-world life experiences.

- Lots of young people find themselves
at risk of homelessness or homeless
for a whole range of reasons.

They've left home because of family and domestic violence.
Some young people are leaving the care of the state,
and at that point in time, they don't have a caring adult.
The importance of the Foyers is that you provide support
for young people in a way that's going to help them
around the tricky bits that people usually ask
their moms and dads about.

- We had researched the Foyer model, and we thought,
what a great model, we wanna do this.
This model builds resilience in young people,
provides them opportunities and safety through housing,
provides them the support and guidance
to transition through their young adulthood
and into full independence at the end.

Now, I've been doing that model for 10 years.
I've been able to watch young people go
from street sleeping all the way into home ownership.

- [Maria] There are staff onsite at the Foyers 24/7.

- Young people of Foyer actually enter into
a formal rental lease agreement.
This means that they must pay bond,
they must pay rent, and they must stay in advance of rent.
What I actually see from young people
who come into this programme is that they're fully committed
and want to engage in earning and learning,

that they do wanna look after their unit, and they do care
about what their neighbours think about them,
that they do respond when you give them feedback,
and that they actually do wanna
be involved in making the place better.

- I remember when I first got into the house
that I was living in, I was so excited.

- It makes me feel like I'm becoming an adult now these days
because it's changed me a lot.
They've turned me into a great man.

- I'm grateful for that because, you know,
we go down, talk to them, they help us out,
and it's like they're our second parents.

- [Imtiaz] I've done my Year 12 while being at Youth Foyer.
I work at Oxley Police Academy as a security guard.

- This place gives you, like,
the perfect pathways to make your life.

- [Wayne] It's a beautiful place, it's amazing.

- I was feeling really bad,
but now I feel great, I feel really blessed.

Hey so my name is Rolando Pisia.
I'm director of REKON Youth Outreach.

It's quite a unique experience for me to how much ownership
the young people in this space have taken in regards to the art piece being presented.
It's actually a culmination of ideas that the young people within the space have come together
and basically talked about some of their interests, some of their, you know, backgrounds and what they felt represented them.
I thought it was a really good, fun thing for us to do here.
And it also got all the people in the complex to kid of engage with each other and get to know each other a bit better.
I went to one of the meetings that was showing the design for it.
And then he came, told me about it and I was like, 'Yeah I'm keen."
- Yeah I love. I really love it. - It's really good.
- Gives it colour. - Yeah it inspires, it makes it more happy.

Originally the idea for the mural at the Logan Youth Foyer came out of the design consultation process.
Initially the young people were talking about a graffiti-type wall.
That idea was really embraced by the architects and they included an art installation piece as part of their design.
One of our artists from REKON who goes by the name of Big P... Big P...
And he was the person that conceptualised and was able to implement the ideas onto a vision board for the young people.
And we've also had Jess whose our local artist here based in Logan and we have the young people who've contributed as well.

My name's Jessica Skeen and I'm originally, our countries from North Queensland, the Kuku Alanji and the Biri.
What I have noticed when I have worked with young ones and with even these lot here is they're really reserved at the start.
But when they get hands on and they get that encouragement to be a part of it, it's just...
It's an empowerment that you see in them and it's a confidence that just comes about.
The mural makes me feel like it's more like home because whenever I walk to the office I'm always going to see it
and it just reminds me of my culture and makes me feel a lot more comfortable here.

It makes me feel connected to community you know.
Like art is very... I don't know the words for it but it's very unique, you know. For them to bring it here and collaborate
with us on what we want was good but I reckon it made me a bit more confident, like, getting to know people in these units.
So some of the things you're going to see in this artwork is some of the native animals that represent Australia.
We have a lot of Maori and Polynesian patterns as well and so again representing some of the Pacific Islanders within the space.
With our centrepiece, being a young man playing a didgeridoo, to have that as a centrepiece is like a celebration and a welcome to the residents in this area.
It helps them take ownership, it helps them bring about pride and a sense of belonging and that their voices matter.
And I think that's a really powerful thing we need to do as a community, like, our young people matter and they need to feel it.

Advantaged Thinking challenges us to see strengths where we might see only deficits or problems.

Test yourself with the 7 Tests of Advantaged Thinking. 

  1. I will talk about people without sterotyping them
  2. I will understand people by what they can do and aspire to be
  3. I will work with people by coaching growth and positive risks
  4. I will invest in people to promote their potential to thrive
  5. I will believe in people
  6. I will involve people so experiences can shape solutions
  7. I will challenge myself and others to promote advantaged thinking.

These tests are based on Colin Falconer's principles of Advantaged Thinking.

Click on the image to enlarge and download a graphical, printable version. 

The 7 Tests of Advantaged Thinking image will open in a new window

About LYFSS

LYFSS is a partnership between Wesley Mission Queensland (WMQ), the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy and Community Housing Limited. WMQ provide holistic support 24/7 on site. Community Housing Limited are the tenancy managers. The Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy manage the social housing register and fund this program. 

YHARS

If you or someone you know is homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, the Youth Housing and Reintegration Support (YHARS) service may be able to provide support. We can help if you're:

  • A young person between the ages of 12 - 21years
  • Sleeping rough or in unstable or temporary housing
  • Residing in the South West Brisbane catchment area
  • Transitioning from the care of Child Safety Services
  • Transitioning into the community after a period of sentence or remand in a Youth Detention Centre.


Through case management YHARS supports young people to:

  • Identify their barriers to stable accommodation
  • Source, apply and transition into safe and affordable accommodation
  • Gain greater independence and stability
  • Reconnect with their family, peers and community
  • Explore, maintain and improve their participation in education, training or employment
  • Connect with specialist support services.


The program is funded by the Australian and Queensland Government’s Homeless National Partnership Agreement.

There are two components within the YHARS Program:


The YHARS After Care Brokerage Service provides funds for young people aged 17-21 years who are transitioning or have transitioned from under a Child Protection order into adulthood. These funds can be applied for via your case worker to remove financial barriers in your current case plan to reach for a greater level of independence and stability. 

After Care Brokerage funding is provided to young people residing in the below ABS regions: 

  • 301 Brisbane - East
  • 302 Brisbane - North
  • 303 Brisbane - South
  • 304 Brisbane - West
  • 305 Brisbane Inner City
  • 309 Gold Coast
  • 310 Ipswich
  • 311 Logan - Beaudesert
  • 313 Moreton Bay - South
  • 314 Moreton Bay - North
  • 316 Sunshine Coast
  • 319 Wide Bay.

Applicants must be aged between 17-21 years and be homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Applicants must be exiting or transitioning from child safety statutory interventions. 

Download

YHARS After Care Brokerage Handbook

.PDF (4.5 MB)
Download

YHARS After care Brokerage Application Form

.PDF (0.3 MB)
Download

YHARS After Care Eligibility Fact Sheet

.PDF (0.1 MB)
Download

Consent Form - Community Services

.PDF (0.1 MB)

The YHARS Housing Support Service provides  support to young people aged 12-21 years who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, within Inala or 30 surrounding suburbs.

The service aims to transition young people into safe and affordable accommodation through providing individual case management to support them to build their capacity and reach for their goals.

We work alongside young people to help them find their hope and their way through challenges they are experiencing.

If you would like to find out more, please call us on (07) 3151 6666 or fill out the form below

Download

YHARS Flyer

.PDF (0.6 MB)
Download

YHARS Support Suburbs

.PDF (0.1 MB)
Download

Consent Form - Community Services

.PDF (0.1 MB)
Download

Case Management Referral Form - Community Services

.PDF (0.1 MB)

Contact Us

For more information, please call 1800 448 448 or complete this form.
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Large Indigenous mural at Logan Youth Foyer Services