General Manager’s Report 2022

Dignity, unconditional positive regard and humanistic connection is imperative to revive the spirit in young people and enable them to participate in active citizenship.

It has been another challenging year for the Gold Coast Project for Homeless Youth Inc in meeting the housing needs and complexities of the young people who required assistance.

Financial pressures are on the rise, there is increasing evidence of the economic, psychological impacts of Covid-19 on communities, families’ and their ability to manage increasing debt, the costs of living, and maintain the family home environment. It is very difficult for families to gain, maintain, sustain safe and secure accommodation on the Gold Coast.

At times, I’ve questioned as a community if this is the very best that we can do.

There has been an increase in the level of fear and anxiety from young people about their futures. Uncertainty about education goals, career aspirations, difficulties in gaining safe, secure and affordable accommodation, relationship issues and feelings of being ill-equipped in the areas of confidence, interpersonal skills and practical work skills to assist with gaining employment or entering education training opportunities. Young people talk about intergenerational housing instability and do not hold hope that home ownership is achievable in the future.

We have experienced a significant increase in young people presenting with complex mental health, who have had multiple periods of disruption to their future plans as a result. Priority support for many relates to seeking and accessing health professional support, managing risk associated with self-harm, supporting young people to manage individual safety plans and assisting young people to stabilise their health whilst engaging with mental health services.

Young people have required a significant increase in the level of support required to prepare them to be ready to look for work and/or engage in education and training. Much of the support required is primary day-to-day living support, establishing a routine and managing mental health. Relationships and social interactions have also been an important component of assisting young people to develop social and interpersonal skills. Housing assistance has been coinciding with managing mental health assistance.

Why is addressing mental health as a priority important? Young people presenting for assistance have advised us that their accommodation, independent or with families has broken down because of tensions and arguments, a lack of understanding of their health concerns (from caregivers and individuals), the inability of families to manage the additional responsibilities of a high-need young person, family fatigue and a lack of respite or perceived risk to younger members in the family or with a flatmate.

There is an immediate response required from Government to review the way that the community responds to mental health concerns experienced by young people.

Age-appropriate improved access to mental health support, access to housing opportunities that supports the psychosocial needs of young people, integrated responses, well-being assistance to ensure that young people receive the dignified care that we should expect and that they need. We know that active participation from young people without these responses are delayed by long waiting times, poor support options and revolving doors
in hospitals.

Young people want to engage in education and training activities, however, tell us that their mental health restricts their ability to manage to achieve personal goals.

June 30, 2023, we conclude our current funding arrangement with the Department of Communities Housing and Digital Economy and wait for a response as to what the government’s expectations are relating to Specialist Homelessness Services in the near future. Our partnership with the Department of Communities Housing and Digital Economy and Community Housing Limited continues to be of success in providing accommodation and support opportunities with the SPin program, we hope that this collaboration will grow in the future and we will be able to grow this partnership to increase our housing supply.

The homeless network continues to respond to the increasing need for support required to assist the visible homeless on the Gold Coast. A lack of housing availability has seen a steady increase in people presenting for the support over the last 12 months. I continue to work on the Homelessness Network as a member of the Management Committee.

Network events the Homelessness Network Annual Symposium and Homeless Connect were able to proceed this year. This year we also saw the City of Gold Coast Homeless Action Plan
2024 published.

The ECHO Centre opened in 2021 to provide an avenue for activities and support for young people. The Centre allows us to provide support outside of where they live, meeting the recommendations of the Housing First model. This program supports young people to socialise and connect with others, develop meaningful relationships and learn tenancy and living skills. Young people find these activities to be enjoyable and allow them to connect with the community in a supported way. GCPHY supporters’ contributions assist with providing the materials for young people to participate in many of these activities.

The ECHO Shop on-site at the ECHO Centre is still of great importance in making sure that young people have access to material aid to assist with setting up new accommodation and providing basic assistance with clothing, personal hygiene items and bedding. We have received significant contributions from supporters to stock the shop over the last 12 months ranging from clothing items, bedding and personal hygiene products. Household items to build support packs and workwear. Young people are free to make time to come along and choose personal items that they may like or need.

Our volunteer contributions have been limited for some time due to COVID-19 restrictions and volunteer availability. Accessing trades and completion of project timelines have been delayed due to material shortage, long waiting times and the increased expense of labour and materials. Some projects have been put on hold to wait for a change in the economy.

We continue to focus on improving our governance and business structure. Financial management was supported by Maddox Accounting. Technology has become an important aspect of our day-to-day business and is supported by Mercury IT. Outsourcing our IT ensures that we are connected in a virtual space and maintain our cyber security and data integrity requirements. There has been an extensive review of our policy and procedure to reflect our growth and future business plans. We continue to work on the delivering the objectives of the GCPHY operations plan 2021-2023, meeting the changing needs of young people, organisation sustainability, social enterprise investment, building individual capacity with young people, promoting innovative, affordable housing projects and investing in active partnerships.

I would like to express gratitude and acknowledge the Team for their resilience and commitment to providing quality support that assists young people to achieve outstanding outcomes. I would also like to thank the Gold Coast Community for their ongoing generosity of spirit. These contributions have provided the opportunity for young people to challenge themselves and think about what the future may hold, to aspire to reach their full potential and be reassured that one path doesn’t determine their direction.

Angela Sheeran, General Manager