Wodonga consortium advancing plans for Youth Foyer on TAFE grounds

Wodonga TAFE has vacant land fronting McKoy Street, adjacent to La Trobe University, earmarked for the project.

A youth foyer opened in Shepparton in 2016 in a partnership between Berry Street, Beyond Housing Network and GOTAFE.

In a similar collaboration in Wodonga, Beyond Housing is leading plans involving Junction Support Services, Yes Unlimited, the two Border councils and Wodonga TAFE.

TAFE chief executive Phil Paterson said the group had recently missed out on a $12 million funding application to the Victorian government, but would continue their advocacy.

"At least two years ago, Wodonga Council pulled a number of parties together, including Brotherhood of St. Lawrence [which started the foyers].

"I was so taken by that concept at the time, I just couldn't believe we didn't have one.

"There's such an overlap in terms of homelessness, disadvantage and education.

"There was a $30 million grant that was made available for homelessness ... we knew, given the size of our quest, it was a bit unlikely.

"We were hoping that with the government announcing $5.6 billion of investment in social housing, that there would be some sort of avenue for us ... unfortunately, that hasn't worked out either.

"The government has put youth foyers on the agenda as part of their strategy now, so that's good. But I don't want to wait until 2026.

"We're continuing to advocate."

Young people eligible in the Education First Youth Foyer model do not have a stable place to live and are willing to make a commitment to stay in education and/or training.

Exploring options to establish one in Wodonga was outlined as a priority by council's youth strategy, which reported "a lack of appropriate housing options for young people, contributing to higher levels of homelessness".

BeyondHousing chief executive Celia Adams said the local consortium was committed to its plans becoming a reality.

"The Youth Foyer is a truly game changing opportunity for some of the most vulnerable young people in our community," she said.

"We are incredibly determined to continue to push the merits of the business case for government funding.

"One of the hopes for the EFYF is to break the cycle of homelessness and disengagement for young people in our region.

"These young tenants will be supported to gain essential, practical life skills to help them transition into mainstream accommodation and live independently."

The wider region has one of the highest rates of youth disadvantage in Australia for low tertiary participation.

Mr Paterson said the facility for up to 40 young people was intended to be cross-border.

"Wodonga TAFE's role would be about the education piece - and that's a generic education piece," he said.

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"For instance, if you come into the youth foyer, you can choose to have education with Wodonga TAFE, but it could also be that you're going to La Trobe University, or it could be that you're going to NSW TAFE.

"The aim would be you go through a certificate in independent living first, and that gives you a starting point.

"You can be in the foyer for up to 24 months, so it does give you that bedrock of stability.

"It's a fantastic model.

"We're not going to solve the problem of homelessness ... but the benefits are enduring and lifelong, if you can intervene at the right level."