Coffs Harbour wants a Youth Foyer, a housing project that gives young people a safe place to live and the support to get ahead. If it wins one, the city will be only the third place in NSW with one.
The City of Coffs Harbour says conditions are now prime to land a Foyer, and it is stepping up its campaign.
Each Foyer houses about 40 young people aged 16 to 24 for up to two years. They get independent units with a private bathroom and kitchenette, plus communal spaces.
There are 18 Accredited Youth Foyers across Australia, in every state and territory except the Northern Territory. Only two operate in NSW, at Chippendale in Sydney and in the Illawarra.
Every Foyer is a little different. Some are Education First Youth Foyers, delivered with TAFE and the Brotherhood of St Laurence. Others focus on learning and earning. The largest, in Perth, supports almost 100 young people. The smallest supports just 15.
The idea was pitched at a City Housing Forum during this year’s NAIDOC Week activities, and it was well received.
Two things have convinced the City the time is right. A Federal funding program has recently committed $300 million through the Housing Future Fund to deliver 520 homes for young Australians experiencing homelessness, including new Youth Foyers. And the NSW election is due in early 2027.
Council has backed the push.
“The Council has shown its support for both of these initiatives, voting unanimously for a resolution which includes a commitment of $100,000 in the current budget to campaign for a Youth Foyer and to start building a Youth Strategy,” Mayor Nikki Williams said.
“Development of a Youth Strategy some years back was deferred due to resourcing constraints so there’s an appetite on Council, and by our young people, to get this happening.”
The City must start work on a Youth Strategy this financial year, with implementation slated for 2027/28.
City General Manager Murray Wood spoke at the NAIDOC Week Housing Forum. The support is already stacking up, he said.
“We’ve already had some 130 letters of support, including submissions from young people with lived experience of homelessness, highlighting both the demonstrated need for and community support of a youth foyer in Coffs Harbour,” Mr Wood said.
The groundwork will include lining up delivery partners, setting governance and operating models, assessing possible sites, building a business case, and finding funding pathways. Every Foyer is delivered by local partners, which can include service organisations, community housing providers, TAFEs, employers, and community groups.
The need is clear, according to City Planning and Communities Director Ian Fitzgibbon.
“The City’s Affordable Housing Strategy identifies a need for an additional 450 places of crisis, short-term, transitional and temporary accommodation to meet the needs of people at risk of homelessness,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“A Youth Foyer can help young people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness by providing safe accommodation and integrated support to complete education, gain employment, develop life skills and transition to independent living.”
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