Minister visits Youth Emergency Services at Nundah House

The Minister for Family and Community Services, Senator Kay Patterson, today visited Nundah House to discuss the issues surrounding homeless young people in Brisbane.

Nundah House is funded under the Australian Government’s $175 million contribution to the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP), and is operated by Youth Emergency Services in Brisbane to assist young people.

“The Howard Government is contributing almost $30 million to SAAP funding in Queensland this financial year,” Senator Patterson said.

“SAAP provides around $700,000 each year to Youth Emergency Services (YES) to operate their three facilities – Nundah House, Windsor House and Sandgate House.”

Senator Patterson said that SAAP is Australia’s primary national response to providing assistance to homeless people or those at imminent risk of becoming homeless.

“SAAP is a support program assisting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness through a range of support and supported accommodation services,” she said.

“YES provides short-term emergency supported accommodation for six to seven homeless young people in Windsor House and offers medium to long-term accommodation at Sandgate house and Nundah House for young people making the transition towards independent living.

“Like many youth services, YES is seeing younger clients with complex needs requiring a high level of support.

“SAAP is a vital program in the community, ensuring people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have proper access to available support services such as those provided in Nundah House.”