Reconnect Youth Homelessness Service for Albany

The Rudd Government will provide the Albany Youth Support Association with $353,000 over the next 18 months to run a new Reconnect homeless intervention service for young people in the Albany region.

The funding will allow the Albany Youth Support Association to expand its services, providing early intervention for young people, aged 12 to 18, who are homeless, or at risk of homelessness, and their families.

 Tanya Plibersek said around 75 young people in Albany are expected to benefit from the program. The new service will be fully operational in January 2010.

“Reconnect re-engages young people with their family, education, training, employment and the community, keeping them in the family home when it’s safe to stay,” Ms Plibersek said.

“This is achieved through counselling, group work, mediation and practical support.

“The Reconnect service will also work closely with other agencies in Albany, enabling it to assist as many young people as possible, who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.”

AYSA currently provides young people between 12 and 25 with crisis accommodation, counselling, family mediation, and help with employment, education, and income assistance.

“The Rudd Government is pleased that Reconnect will link with other homelessness programs in Albany as part of our commitment to better wrap-around services as outlined in the Homelessness White Paper,” Ms Plibersek said.

Senator for Western Australia Glenn Sterle said today’s announcement underpins the Rudd Government’s commitment to reducing youth homelessness.

“The Rudd Government is investing $48 million over the next two years to continue to support young people who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, through the Reconnect program,” Senator Sterle said.