Vulnerable young people in North East Victoria are one step closer to a stable and secure home, after the state government committed $6.5 million for 95 portable studios to be delivered through the Kids Under Cover organisation.
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Kids Under Cover is a not-for-profit organisation, which provides young people aged 12 to 21 studio accommodation that goes in the rear of the family or a carers home to prevent youth homelessness.
Kids Under Cover chief executive Jo Swift said the accommodation could change a young person's trajectory in life.
"Across Wodonga, Wangaratta, Yarrawonga, Echuca and Benalla we've got 27 studios," she said.
"Some of those are two bedroom studios, so we're actually housing 46 young vulnerable people in the region and with the recent announcement there's already one allocated for a justice client in Yarrawonga."
On any night Kids Under Cover homes 936 young people.
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Ms Swift said that even before COVID-19 the not-for-profit has been overwhelmed with demand.
"Between May last year and now we have received over 900 enquiries for a studio," she said.
"That is so far over and above what we would have ordinarily expected to receive as far as applications and enquiries go and it just speaks to the shocking demand that has been created through COVID.
"For anybody in COVID it's a challenging situation, but if you're living in an over crowded home which generates a lot of conflict and you're in a hard lockdown - you have lost contact with your social network, your school, your football club, whatever it may be that gives you that relief and release - when that has been taken from you, things become incredibly difficult.
"Families will break down at a greater rate simply because of the pressure they are facing under these conditions."
Ms Swift said the demand was higher in regional areas.
"It wont come as a surprise to anyone living in regional areas that the increase is quite noted in those areas," she said.
"We know that housing prices in regional areas have skyrocketed thanks to city people wanting to leave and take up a tree change.
"We're recognising that the availability of affordability of rental properties or any rental properties at all regional areas is dissolving.
"With all of these conditions in place it really doesn't leave a lot of options for a young person as far as housing goes."
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Victoria Ellis
Victoria Ellis grew up on the Border and loves reporting for her home community. She is a University of Wollongong Journalism graduate. In 2018 Victoria was awarded the Bruce Gordon Scholarship for Journalism and completed a 10 week internship with WIN News Illawarra. In 2019 she was awarded The Border Mail's Cameron Thompson Scholarship, where she completed a three week internship, before taking up ongoing employment in 2021.
Victoria Ellis grew up on the Border and loves reporting for her home community. She is a University of Wollongong Journalism graduate. In 2018 Victoria was awarded the Bruce Gordon Scholarship for Journalism and completed a 10 week internship with WIN News Illawarra. In 2019 she was awarded The Border Mail's Cameron Thompson Scholarship, where she completed a three week internship, before taking up ongoing employment in 2021.
