Have your say on a proposal to lease 5-7 Main Street, Pakenham to Anchor for a proposed integrated learning, employment and accommodation setting for young people.
Anchor, an organisation that provides homelessness support, out of home care and youth development services, has approached Council with a proposal to lease the Council-owned land as part of a funding application to the Department Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Victoria to construct the facility called a ‘Youth Foyer’.
Youth Foyers are integrated learning and accommodation settings for young people, typically aged 16 to 24 years, who are at risk of or are experiencing homelessness.
The Youth Foyer model supports young people to engage with further education, life-skills training and employment opportunities to build and sustain independence and would address an identified gap in services and supports for young people locally.
Cardinia Shire is currently home to more than 16,000 young people aged 15 to 24, and this is expected to increase to more than 26,000 by 2041.
As part of the Youth Foyer model, 20 youth accommodation units would be built to provide secure housing to the participants while they engage with the program.
Youth workers would be on site 24 hours a day to provide support and facility management.
The Youth Foyer model has strict eligibility criteria to ensure that young people are ready and motivated to engage with the program.
The current My Place Youth Centre services, located at 5-7 Main Street in Pakenham, are set to be relocated to the new Cardinia Youth Hub on James Street in Pakenham that is currently under construction and is set to officially open its doors next year.
The proposed construction of the Youth Foyer would include the demolition of the existing building onsite.
The project is contingent on the applicant, Anchor, obtaining:
- funding from the Department Families, Fairness and Housing DFFH (operational costs)
- funding from ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s Victoria through the Big Housing Build Youth Housing Capital Program (capital funding)
- lease of land from Cardinia Shire Council
No decision on the proposed project has been made by Council at this stage.
Council will take feedback into consideration before making a decision on the proposal, which is scheduled for consideration at the 20 June Council Meeting.
If the funding applications and the lease proposal are accepted, Anchor will proceed with its proposal on this site.
