Hope Street Youth and Family Services in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | Non-profit organisation

Hope Street Youth and Family Services

Locality: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Phone: +61 3 8311 9610

Address: 233 Sydney Road 3056 Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Website: https://www.hopest.org

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25.01.2022 Heres some exciting news to counter all the disheartening updates Melbournians are being hit with every day at the moment...The Hope Street First Response Youth Service facility in Melton is days away from being complete. This means young people from the west will have a dedicated crisis accommodation site for the first time. A place to turn when crisis hits and they dont have a safe place to call home. Today were putting Holcim in the spotlight - they have provided discounted concrete for the facility. In their own words: "It is a privilege to support Hope Street in any way we can. In times like what we are experiencing, it is fundamental to support the youth of today to keep them safe and provide every opportunity we can." Good on you, team. We are super grateful! *NB: photo taken pre-COVID-19! Geostone

25.01.2022 More and more evidence all sending the same message: #housingfirst. If youre watching Filthy, Rich and Homeless on SBS (on again tonight at 8.30pm) youll get an insight into why this approach is so critical. For young people and young families who are experiencing homelessness, like those Hope Street supports, securing a place to call home is a critical first step that can then facilitate and enable them to take the further steps needed to live fulfilled lives and reach their full potential. Everybodys Home #EverybodysHome #FilthyRichHomeless

25.01.2022 Todays the day! Join us at 2.30pm via Zoom for the virtual launch of the First Response Youth Refuge. Registrations close at midday - follow the link below. Everyone welcome! https://www.hopest.org//321-that-s-a-wrap-construction-of-

25.01.2022 Construction of our First Response Youth Refuge in Melton is soooo close to being complete now!! We continue to celebrate and thank the many partners who have provided fully donated or heavily discounted building supplies to help us keep the capital costs as low as possible. Two such partners are Handrail Industries (https://handrailindustries.com.au/) and RBA Group (https://www.rba.com.au/) who have provided sanitary fittings and accessories at a sizable discount. Were so grateful for each and every business who has contributed to this project, and cant wait to see it completed and the doors opened for young people who are experiencing homelessness in the Melton area.

24.01.2022 In July 2020, Hope Street completed construction of a purpose-designed facility called the First Response Youth Service Centre in Melton. The facility includes an 8 bedroom youth refuge, a 2 bedroom family unit and an admin building. It also forms a base from which a mobile outreach service will operate. Over the next 12 months, 100 young people who are experiencing homelessness will stay in the refuge, and an additional 100 young people will be supported via mobile outreach services. We are incredibly grateful to the more than 40 partners from the Government, business, community and philanthropic sectors who made this possible. Designed by Brand Architects. Photographed by Hilary Faye.

24.01.2022 Great write-up in the Moorabool Online as we celebrate the launch of the Hope Street First Response Youth Refuge. https://mooraboolonline.com.au//melton-moorabool-youth-in/

23.01.2022 Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate the virtual launch of the First Response Youth Refuge yesterday. Celebrating virtually is certainly not the same as being able to do so in-person. And yet, its important for us all to keep celebrating special occasions during this season. So be it a birthday, an anniversary, a graduation, or a launch of a new building like it was in our case yesterday, lets keep celebrating as best and as creatively as we can. Yesterdays vir...tual launch marked the end of a significant project that Hope Street has been focusing on for the better part of the part five years. We had over 40 partners from the government, philanthropic, corporate and community sectors along with us for the journey in what has been a truly collaborative effort. Its an ending to the advocacy/design/construction phase, but its also just the beginning, with young people moving in to the facility in the weeks ahead. Over the coming years, hundreds of young people and young families who are experiencing homelessness will find a safe place to call home, and they will find hope again. Thank you for joining us via zoom - we felt and we feel your love and support, despite the distance between us all right now. #Hopeliveshere #Keepcelebrating #FirstResponse #Launch #HW2020 See more

22.01.2022 Our new First Response Youth Refuge in Melton is a place where young people (aged 16-25) and young families who are homeless can feel safe, welcomed and supported. Big River Instant Turf have generously donated the turfed lawn for the grounds. In their own words: "We are proud to be an active supporter of programs which support individual and families who are in need in our communities." We are grateful!

22.01.2022 COVID-19 restrictions meant we werent able to host a traditional launch event at the site of our new youth refuge in Melton. Instead, we had to be creative about finding ways to showcase the new purpose-built facility. To this end, weve had a short film made about the project. Featuring our CEO Donna Bennett; Chair of the Board Andrew Nette; Minister for Housing Richard Wynne MP Mayor Cr. Lara Carli - City of Melton; Director of Brand Architects Laurence Robinson; our Youth Ambassador Nick; and lots of footage from the site. We hope you enjoy this look inside Melbournes latest purpose-built specialist youth homelessness centre! https://www.hopest.org//321-that-s-a-wrap-construction-of-

21.01.2022 Our team members came together for a virtual morning tea and educational session on Monday to celebrate #IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia). Many of the young people we support identify as LGBTIQA+, and were committed to continually ensuring we provide safe environments and services for the LGBTIQA+ community.

21.01.2022 Tuesday tributes to Everlast Services and Melton Home Timber and Hardware - our fencing providers (fully donated and heavily discounted fencing materials) for the Hope Street First Response Youth Service in Melton. Fencing is going up on the site over the next week, ensuring that when young people move into the refuge they feel safe and protected.This is particularly important given that the majority of young people who will stay in the refuge have escaped family or domestic violence and have had traumatic childhoods. Thank you to these incredible partners!! Image by Brand Architects.

20.01.2022 Start your day with a cup of hope! We have partnered with Wide Open Road Coffee Roasters & Cafe to produce a unique and delicious Hope Street Espresso Blend! Sales of this coffee deliver a valuable donation to Hope Street, moving us one step closer towards our vision of a society in which all young people have a safe place to call home. We would LOVE your help to spread the word about this hope-filled coffee - tag your friends, share this post and tell your workplaces! Click through to place your order now. THANK YOU for your support of this exciting initiative. We need positive partnerships and projects like this now more than ever. Hope is just a sip away! https://www.hopest.org/get-involved/fundraisers

20.01.2022 "Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat." Mother Teresa.#HopeStreet #HopeLivesHere #YouthHomelessness https://www.hopest.org/get-involved/donations

19.01.2022 Weve just released a special edition of our Partners eNewsletter, focusing on the First Response Youth Refuge in Melton - our brand new facility. See photographs from the site; find out the latest youth homelessness stats; read comments from key stakeholders including Minister for Housing Richard Wynne MP, Steve McGhie MP, Mayor Cr. Lara Carli - City of Melton, our Youth Ambassador Nick, and The Ian Potter Foundation; and find out which philanthropic, business, Government and community partners made this project possible. Click through to our website to download this special edition eNewsletter. https://www.hopest.org/publicatio/category/394-enewsletters

18.01.2022 Ecodynamics is one of our amazing corporate partners. Their team is currently onsite at our new First Response Youth Service centre in Melton, completing the landscaping completely free of charge. How incredible is that!? The landscaping is an important feature of the design of the new site, ensuring the facility is a calming, peaceful and restorative environment for young people who are experiencing homelessness and the trauma that comes with and precedes homelessness. Ever grateful!

18.01.2022 "Home isn't a place, it's a feeling."

18.01.2022 Only one week to go before our AGM via Zoom! If you wish to attend, make sure you have registered for a free Eventbrite ticket at https://2020-hope-street-agm.eventbrite.com.au to get your Zoom details prior to the AGM.

17.01.2022 The latest season of Filthy Rich and Homeless kicks off TONIGHT at 8.30pm on SBS. The show provides an incredible insight into the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness in Australia. In tonights episode, the spotlight will be on youth homelessness, experienced through the eyes of 23 year old comedian and radio presenter, Ciaran Lyons. This article highlights 8 surprising facts from the series. We encourage all our Hope Street friends and partners to tune in tonight! https://bit.ly/2Y8ouLq

17.01.2022 Our Partners eNewsletter is available for download from our website via the link below. Its filled with stories of hope and inspiration from our teams and the young people we support. Homelessness is not hopelessness. To subscribe to receive these eNewsletter straight to your inbox, comment below. https://us3.campaign-archive.com/

16.01.2022 On World Homeless Day and World Mental Health Day today, Hope Street acknowledges the strengths and resilience of the thousands of young people and young families experiencing homelessness each year. We are inspired by their abilities in living each day whilst coping with the impact of not having a safe home, including instability, poverty and poor mental health. Hope Street is here to support you. #WorldHomelessDay #WorldHomelessnessDay #WorldMentalHealthDay #WorldMentalHealthDay2020 #homelessness #youthhomelessness #homelessnessawareness #homelesstruths

16.01.2022 Hope Street is committed to joining the National Redress Scheme and is actively taking steps to become a participating institution. Our organisation has a zero tolerance to all forms of violence, including child abuse, and is committed to creating safe communities which focus on the best interests of children and young people so they are able to thrive in their development and all they do. Hope Street promotes the safety and empowerment of all children and young people acknowledging both their individual diversity and cultural heritage. #NationalRedressScheme #ChildSafety #safecommunities

14.01.2022 We are hiring! A fantastic opportunity for a positive and dedicated individual to join our Leadership Team and hold responsibility for the day to day operations of our new purpose-built refuge in Melton. Working closely with the Program Manager, in this role you will provide leadership and direction to the crisis accommodation team: 6 residential youth workers and 2 case managers. To apply and read more about this position, follow this link to our website https://www.hopest.org/get-involved/employment Please spread the word if you know anyone who might be interested! Applications close 15th Sept. at midnight.

14.01.2022 THATS A WRAP! We are delighted to report that construction of the Hope Street First Response Youth Refuge in Melton is now complete! Young people are moving into the facility in the weeks ahead. Over the next 12 months, at least 100 young people (16-25 years old) and young families will receive crisis accommodation and support in the refuge. An additional 100 young people will be supported via our mobile outreach service. This is an exciting moment for Hope Street, the Melto...n community, our partners and young people who are experiencing homelessness. Together, we take a step forward in achieving our vision for a society in which all young people and young families have a safe place to call home. We are deeply grateful to every partner, donor and supporter who gave generously to make this possible. Read the full article on our website: https://www.hopest.org//321-that-s-a-wrap-construction-of- Victorian Department of Health & Human Services City of Melton The Ian Potter Foundation Richard Wynne MP Mayor Cr. Lara Carli - City of Melton Brand Architects Bloom Interior Design Melton Home Timber and Hardware Geostone SoilWorx Upfront Events Sofitel Melbourne on Collins Austral Masonry Stramit Building Products Public Relations Exchange Pty Ltd Hutchinson Glass and Glazing Polyflor Australia Interface Criterion Industries Johnson Tiles Aus Haymes Paint Daikin Australia GWA Group Streamline Products RBA GROUP Technika Appliances Superior Landscapes ASC Water Tanks Big River Instant Turf Ecodynamics Australian Ecotech Solutions Plyco - Your Local Plywood Store Woodgrove Shopping Centre Australian Communities Foundation Bunnings Melton Hardings Hardware Tabcorp Park

14.01.2022 Hope lives here. Over the past year, Hope Street has supported 635 young people and young families when they didnt have a safe place to call home. From our youth refuges providing crisis accommodation, to our supported transitional housing units providing long-term accommodation, from counselling and referrals to wrap-around support. We were there for young people in their time of need. Thank you for being part of the journey.

13.01.2022 Hope Streets First Response Youth Mobile Outreach Service in Melton has been in operation for two years now. In this time, the Service has supported 228 young people and young families who were experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. Of these, 92 were male and 136 were female. 20 were dependent children aged 0-8. Each of these 228 young people and children have a name, a story and a hope that the road ahead will be easier than the one that lead them here. This impact has been made possible thanks to the generosity of The Ian Potter Foundation, who have provided a four-year major grant towards the First Response Youth Mobile Outreach Service. For more info check out out website: https://www.hopest.org//214-hope-street-first-response-you

12.01.2022 Thanks to all who attended our Annual General Meeting tonight. We hope that you found the evening informative and enjoyable. Our Annual Report is available at https://www.hopest.org/publications/annual-reports Hope Street has continued to go from strength to strength during 2019-2020. There have been so many achievements across all areas at Hope Street and we have demonstrated our agility and resilience to manage key challenges experienced this year. Thank you to everyone ...who has been a part of Hope Street's success in delivering quality and responsive youth homelessness services to our clients and local communities. We especially acknowledge the hundreds of young people who have accessed our services. Your determination to create a future of hope for yourself and your children, utilising your many strengths is inspirational. Thanks so much for allowing Hope Street to be a part of your journey. #homelessness #YouthHomelessness #HopeLivesHere

11.01.2022 Heres a sneak peak inside our new First Response Youth Refuge in Melton! Photos courtesy of Hilary Faye: https://hilaryfaye.com/

11.01.2022 Our thoughts are with the 3000 public housing residents who are now in full lock down. Some of them are likely previous Hope Street clients. Victoria has a massive public housing shortage, so the waiting list to secure a property is currently 10 years. Many of the people impacted by the full lock down have longterm traumatic experiences of homelessness, unemployment and mental health challenges. They are our most vulnerable citizens. And right now they are going through yet m...ore trauma, unable to step outside of their small units to even exercise or get fresh air; waiting to find out if they have been exposed to coronavirus; wondering which of their loved ones they may have already in turn exposed. Wondering when and how this will all end, as we all are. They are on our front line right now, and it hurts that our most vulnerable must take up this fight. Stay strong, stay connected, know that this too will pass. https://www.abc.net.au//victoria-coronavirus-case/12422456

11.01.2022 Last year, Hope Street provided homelessness support to 670 young people and children who did not have a home. These young people came from a total of 26 different countries of birth. Many were refugees or asylum seekers, whose lack of access to income support and medicare left them vulnerable, without any safety nets to catch them when they fell. Right now, its Refugee Week. And right now, there are about 16,000 children of asylum seeker families at risk of homelessness ac...ross Australia. We urge the Federal Government to provide asylum seeker families with the same income support that is available to others living in Australia during the Coronavirus pandemic. Australia has the opportunity to prevent these families from joining the ever-growing list of those who are homeless - we just need to decide to do it. #RefugeeWeek #NoChildLeftBehind Scott Morrison (ScoMo) See more

10.01.2022 Its National Reconciliation Week. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 22% of the homeless population, despite being just 2.8% of the Australian population. To have a conversation about homelessness among Indigenous Australians, we have to simultaneously talk about the impact of colonisation, and physical and cultural displacement that haunts our collective history. As beyond a doubt, these wrongs of the past are still impacting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and contributing to a much higher rate of homelessness in their communities. So lets talk, lets have these conversations, lets face these hard truths, lets be in it together to steer Australia to a brighter, fairer and better future - for everyone. #NRW2020 #InThisTogether2020

10.01.2022 Thanks to Melton & Moorabool Star Weekly for the write-up this week https://meltonmoorabool.starweekly.com.au//hope-centre-ne/

10.01.2022 Many of the primary causes of homelessness are structural, in particular the severe shortage of affordable public and social housing as well as incomes that keep people entrenched in poverty. Resolving homelessness is the responsibility of federal, state and local governments and local communities. The recently-released Federal Budget is a clear demonstration of the Federal Government woefully and purposefully neglecting to meet its responsibilities. The Victorian and loca...l governments were major partners enabling Hope Street to build a leading purpose-designed youth refuge in the metropolitan western growth corridor. This much-needed centre for vulnerable young people was also strongly supported by the wider community with over 40 companies and groups making significant contributions. Hope Street looks forward to further social initiatives in partnership with the Victorian and local governments and our community to build a society in which all young people and young families have a safe place to call home. The Federal Government needs to step up. #budget #Budget2020 #auspol #AusPol2020 #homelessness #youthhomelessness #AffordableHousing #socialhousing

10.01.2022 ASC Water Tanks have provided water tanks for our new First Response Youth Refuge in Melton at a significant discount. We asked them why they chose to support Hope Street and heres what they said: "We believe the youth of the Northern and Western Suburbs of Melbourne deserve a place to feel safe and that all youth in Australia should have a home. Supporting Hope Street is just a small thing that we could do to contribute and we would like to thank everyone at Hope Street for the amazing work they do everyday for our youth and the broader community." We love it when businesses partner with us to put a roof over the heads of young people who are experiencing homelessness - every contribution counts!

09.01.2022 Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton are a loyal partner of Hope Streets. They recently donated gift cards to the value of $5200, which will be distributed to young people who are experiencing homelessness. The vouchers come at a time when many young people have lost income from being stood down from their casual jobs. Young people will be able to spend the vouchers on food, personal care items and clothing to get them through this tough period. Our Programs Manager, Citshela Ndlovu, is pictured here collecting the vouchers from the shopping centre. Thank you Woodgrove!

08.01.2022 Just a few days left of the financial year...how did we get here so quickly!? If youre looking for a charity organisation to make a tax-deductible donation to in these last few days of the tax year, please consider Hope Street! All donations go towards supporting young people and young families who are experiencing homelessness in Melbourne. Were local, were grassroots, and we make a real and awesome impact on the lives of young people and young families who dont have a safe place to call home. https://www.hopest.org/get-involved/donations

07.01.2022 Well hows this for a mid-week pick-me-up?! We are DELIGHTED to be a recipient of StreetSmart Australias #SmartMeals initiative. SmartMeals uses donated funds to provide meals prepared by the hospitality sector to organisations that are supporting people who are homeless. Its a genius response to the challenging times were all living in - providing income and support to both cafes/restaurants and people who are homeless. Hope Street has been partnered up with local Brunswick social enterprise home.one, who are providing 40 meals per week for young people staying in our Brunswick youth refuge. How awesome is that?! For more info on the SmartMeals initiative, head to www.streetsmartaustralia.org.

05.01.2022 This Thursday afternoon at 2.30pm we are hosting a virtual launch event to celebrate the opening of the First Response Youth Refuge. Everyone is welcome! Please register at the link below. P.S. its National Homelessness Week, so theres never been a better week to set aside one hour to learn more about youth homelessness and celebrate this momentous occasion with Hope Street, our partners and young people who are experiencing homelessness. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/first-response-youth-refuge

04.01.2022 Could you be our next Business Development and Partnerships Manager? Use your skills in partnerships, business development and communications to make an impact on young people who are experiencing homelessness. Please help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity to join our Executive Leadership Team. https://www.hopest.org/get-involved/employment

04.01.2022 Flooring....its something we take for granted. But many young people who have experienced homelessness know what its like to sleep rough on the street, in a car or train, or in overcrowded rooming houses. When seeking refuge in crisis accommodation centres, details like the texture and colour of the floors can go a long way towards creating an environment of peace and safety. Thats why weve been super deliberate in choosing the flooring for the First Response Youth Refuge thats under construction (about to be completed!) in Melton. We are so lucky to have had some generous providers partner with us to provide heavily discounted flooring materials - Polyflor Australia and Interface. On behalf of the 100 young people who will seek crisis accommodation in the refuge over the next 12 months, THANK YOU to these generous partners!!

04.01.2022 Celebrate NAIDOC week #alwayswasalwayswillbe NAIDOC 2020 invites all Australians to embrace the true history of this country a history which dates back thousands of generations. It’s about seeing, hearing and learning the First Nations’ 65,000+ year history of this country - which is Australian history.... To celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples follow this link https://www.naidoc.org.au/ #alwayswasalwayswillbe #NAIDOCWeek #NationalNAIDOC #aboriginalculture

03.01.2022 Thanks to Melton & Moorabool Star Weekly for the great write-up about our new youth refuge. https://meltonmoorabool.starweekly.com.au//hope-for-homel/

03.01.2022 Coffee anyone? Melbourians need coffee like never before to get us through the final few weeks of this lock down! You can drink coffee for a cause thanks to Hope Streets partnership with Wide Open Road. The Hope Street Espresso blend is available for online order and delivery now, with proceeds coming to Hope Street to support our work with young people who are experiencing homelessness. Please help us spread the word! Order via https://www.hopest.org/get-involved/fundraisers

02.01.2022 Our CEO, Donna Bennett, advocated for permanent increases to welfare rates beyond COVID-19 in an article in yesterdays Daily Telegraph. Heres an extract from the article.... CEO Donna Bennett from Hope Street Youth and Family Services said permanently increasing welfare rates could be a buffer in preventing homelessness in young families who then have far more options to secure their future. With the increased payment, young people are now more likely to be able to secu...re and obtain private rental accommodation as a viable option to exit out of homelessness. They are also more likely to be able to afford items required to search for and secure employment, such as clothing and personal care items to assist with presentation at interviews, public transport to attend interviews and data to search for jobs online, " said Ms Bennett. https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au//31f52c47f2dabb8679233b5 See more

01.01.2022 This is the bath at our new First Response Youth Refuge that opened in Melton recently. The bath room was designed based on feedback from young people with lived experience of homelessness. They told us that a hot bath, looking over a private garden would be a pretty amazing way to sooth some of the stress and trauma they were dealing with due to their experience with homelessness. The young people currently staying in the refuge are absolutely loving their baths! Design by Brand Architects and photograph by hilaryfaye.com.

01.01.2022 Throughout the year, our First Response Youth Mobile Outreach Service in Melton have been distributing emergency backpacks to young people who are experiencing homelessness. Funded by Australian Communities Foundation (Ballandry Fund) and Youth in Philanthropy (an initiative of The Lord Mayors Charitable Foundation), the backpacks help young people to feel supported and to know that they will be okay. They contain: A towel and face-cloth Essential toiletry items such as deod...orant, soap, shampoo and conditioner A clothing voucher A food voucher A phone credit/data voucher A USB stick for storing important documents and photographs A public transport pass Were grateful to be able to support young people in this way.

01.01.2022 Just a shout out to Haymes Paint (the awesome team pictured here) who have provided all the paint for our First Response Youth Refuge in Melton at a hefty discount. In their words: The challenges surrounding homelessness have immense effects on both individuals and families, especially in the current environment where options for assistance and accommodation are even more scarce. As an Australian family owned manufacturer, Haymes Paint feel for the plight of those affected and were keen to assist with paint materials for the Hope Street First Response Youth Refuge project. We encourage all who are in a position to help, please support organisations such as Hope Street as the vulnerable need our help more than ever.