The Foundations Project
1/09/2020
WE ARE FACING UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN THE BAROSSA REGION.
THE MOST VULNERABLE IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE IN NEED OF YOUR HELP.
We knew of at least forty-four children who were homeless in the Barossa region prior to the pandemic. This number has now increased significantly, with children as young as eight years old presenting as homeless to Centacare. With COVID, people across the country are being told to stay home. For young people who do not have a safe and secure place to call home, this is easier said than done.
With no youth shelter in the region, we are seeing a worrying increase in the number of children sleeping rough and in cars during this cold winter.
There is a misconception that young people experience homelessness by choice, but the reality is often very different. The issues are vast and complex. For at-risk young people, their lives have become emotionally and often physically unbearable. Their home life may be impacted by the disadvantage of poverty, neglect, abuse, unemployment, substance abuse, health issues, disability, and mental illness.
Foundation Barossa is partnering with Kids Under Cover and Centacare Youth Homelessness in the Barossa on a solution.
Kids under Cover runs an innovative, evidence-based studio program, which provides secure and stable accommodation for young people at risk of homelessness. They build relocatable one- and two-bedroom (with bathroom) studios that are installed in the backyard of the family or carer’s home.
Each studio is used to prevent homelessness on average for four children. The extra space relieves overcrowding, eases tensions, and provides young people with a secure and stable place, giving at-risk young people the room to recover and develop.
Centacare provides case management, early intervention, outreach, post-crisis, and wait-list support to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in the Barossa region.
WE NEED TO RAISE $100,000
This will allow us to build our first studio in the region which is an important step in this journey. With your donation, you will be ensuring four Barossa kids are prevented from becoming homeless. It will also provide seed funding for a long term self-sustainable fund to ensure a simple but effective approach to the prevention of youth homelessness with the funding of further studios. Foundation Barossa will work with these young people to provide education scholarships so they can continue their studies and achieve their goals
We have a real opportunity to make a difference to the lives of these children.
We are looking for the Barossa community to crowd-fund for The Foundations Project, with tax-deductible donations.
We invite you to be part of this important initiative and help some of the most vulnerable members of our community.
A heartfelt thank you.
To Donate:
or
EFT Payments can be made to:
Barossa Region Community Foundation Inc
BSB: 105-024
Account: 034 847 640 Reference: TFP and your name
Please provide remittance advice to info@foundationbarossa.org.au and we will send you your tax receipt.
More Information
FOUNDATION BAROSSA YOUTH HOMELESSNESS APPEAL – PDF
Foundations Project Evaluation Report – PPT
