Page216 - Week 01 - Thursday, 3 December 2020

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Youth—housing
(Question No 13)

Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Housing and Suburban Development, upon notice, on 4 December 2020:

(1) Noting the Parliamentary and Government Agreement between ACT Labor and the ACT Greens includes a commitment to ‘develop youth specific social housing services, such as the Government’s previously announced commitment to a youth foyer at CIT Woden’, can the Minister provide detailed plans for this ‘youth foyer’, including its design, operation, intended function, cost to build, and cost to operate.

(2) What other youth-specific social housing services are included in this commitment, including possible location, intended users, costs, and etc.

Ms Berry: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

(1) The Youth Foyer planned for the CIT Campus-Woden development is currently proposed to include 20 rooms for young people between the ages of 16 and 24 who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or who are otherwise eligible to utilise the accommodation.

The co-location of the Youth Foyer on the new CIT campus is intended to provide occupants with a ready pathway to education opportunities that will range from life skills to formal vocational education and training qualifications.

The location of the Youth Foyer will afford access to public transport, which will be available in the new Woden transport interchange on Callam Street which adjoins the CIT Campus site. It will similarly provide occupants with convenient access to shops and services outlets through being located in the Woden Town Centre.

The detailed design of the Youth Foyer is currently being developed by Major Projects Canberra in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the Community Services Directorate. The design will provide for a safe and secure living environment for each occupant.

The Youth Foyer will incorporate dedicated bedrooms providing independent living accommodation for each occupant as well as communal functional areas such as a shared foyer; communal kitchen; laundry; dining, living and activity areas; administration and interview rooms and an external recreation courtyard. The cost to build the youth foyer is integrated within the total cost of the CIT Woden campus, which is subject to a procurement process commencing in 2021.

Community Services Directorate through Housing ACT is supporting Major Projects Canberra (MPC) in relation to the inclusion of the Youth Foyer model at the new CIT Woden Campus site, particularly to develop the functional requirements of the model. Housing ACT will be responsible for establishment of the Youth Foyer accommodation model, and service funding arrangements will be made separately by Housing ACT for the ongoing funding of the model. This is expected to occur in 2022-23.


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